Peace and Tranquility

1 Peter 3:3 & 4
Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

A conversation with a friend had me thinking about this verse~ we were discussing how there are some people where, the minute you meet them, you know~ REALLY KNOW~ that they are Christians. Before they speak, before there is action... just in seeing them you know.

Their gentle and quiet spirit, that adornment of GOD is so present in their face that it doesn't require words or actions to convince you of their faith.

Then there are these folks who act as if they are Christian, they have the words, but there is a harshness about them that makes the words and actions in conflict to the appearance.

In Romans 6~ Paul talks about how as sinners we were slaves to sin but as Christians we are slaves to GOD. I sat wondering how, when I know there are these people who wholeheartedly want to be Christians and for all outward appearances seem to be doing the Christian thing but lack that something, I guess that Peace (Phil. 4:7). God's Peace...

It really had me thinking...

Paul, again in Romans 6 talks about how the "old man" is dead and a "new man" is born... so if we are new, died and born again, how is it that parts of the "old man" the sinner is still in us?

Why are there these inner conflicts between making choices for God's instruction or sin? Some of it is things we do not even make concious decision about. What comes to mind is the spirit of judgement~ when we make judgement on a situation or person. I know for me this is something I do without thought unless I am making a negative judgement and then the Holy Spirit works on me telling me not to do it.

I feel like a failure~ that I still struggle with my sinnful self instead of being set free from sin and doing only what God requires... it makes me question my salvation... is it real since I still struggle with sin?

James 1:5~ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

So I am going to God, asking HIM to discern these things that I am conflicted by, to show me HIS truth...