If anyone wants to be His disciple, which I presume should be the goal of every born again believer, they need to die.
The only people who don't sin are dead people.
Which is why Christ told us to take up our own cross and follow Him.
We die to the world, die to ourselves, and Christ lives through us by His Holy Spirit.
That's the model. That's how its supposed to work.
The sad truth is, that most people who claim to be followers of Christ, don't study their bibles, don't have a prayer life, are never discipled by a mature older brother or sister, seldom hear the truth from the pulpit, and the person to their right and to their left in that pew on Sunday, is in the exact same sad situation as they are.
The good news is... well, its the Good News, if a person truly repents and places their trust in Christ at any point in their lives, God in His infinite mercy and wisdom will redeem them and regenerate them. And at some point, regardless of the circumstances, in His good timing and according to His own will, and for His own glory, He will enlighten their hearts and minds and call them out of the darkness.
How do I know this to be true? Because He did it for me, and many others like me.
In my own estimation, my prayer life sucks, not because I don't have one, but because I do, and its amazing, and I know how much better it could be. My time in the word also leaves much to be desired, not because I do not spend time in His word, but because I know I don't spend nearly enough time in His word, and every time I do, He never fails to give to me some deeper knowledge than I possessed the day before. My obedience also sucks, not because I live in sin, but because He has made me so sensitive to the leading of His Spirit that I find it hard to balance my everyday life with those things I feel led by Him to do.
The reality of this spiritual life we are now living, is that once we truly see Him for who He is, and ourselves for who we truly are, we will never be satisfied no matter how much of Him we receive, or how much of ourselves we give.
If this resonates with anyone, then please accept this humble exhortation. Cultivate a life of prayer. Rise early and seek His face, open up your hearts and mouths to Him daily, take the time to get to know your Father intimately, and prepare to be amazed. I did, and I can sincerely say, its the single most important action I have ever taken.
I'm so far from what I am called to be that I cannot put it into words. But neither can I adequately express how much love and compassion and tenderness and joy and satisfaction I have received and continue to receive from my Father, and that even on my worst days. And I often find that it is in those worst moments, that He actually reveals His deep love for me the most.
Imagine the worlds greatest Dad, teaching His blind, deaf and lame son, how to ride a bicycle. If you can imagine that, minus a few meaningless details, you now know the story of my life.
Father have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Holy Spirit lift the veil.