why christians struggle

I believe that every new babe in Christ will struggle early on in their relationship with Him.  In my own life I struggled religiously because I couldn’t accept the fact that God would just do nice things to me.  As a catholic it was engrained in me to “earn” God’s attention.  I had no concept of God’s love nor His goodness.  I always believed that my sin kept God at a distance and that He wanted nothing to do with me. 
 
Mathew 8:2 There came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if You want to, You can make me clean.

Perhaps this leper was a catholic!  He believed Jesus could heal him, he had faith in His power.  But he didn’t know if Jesus was willing because lepers were the scourge of the east.  Lepers were not allowed to enter villages, they lived among their own in colonies. 
 
Mathew 8:3 Jesus put forth His hand and touched him, saying, I will; be clean.  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

I’m sure this leper got a revelation this day, not only did Jesus heal him but He laid His hand on him.  This leper represents all the people who want God to touch them but they have no hope that He will.  Some have been told that God gave them the disease on account of their lifestyle!  Religion has erected a wrought iron fence between God and man and religion is the only gate in that barrier.  If you play by the rules of religion they will give you limited access to the vicinity of God.  Why do Christians struggle?  Because they have been given a god that was manufactured in the minds of men.  These men can never help anyone because they believe what they teach others.  Let me offer you some advice: take the uncompromised Word of God and wash your mind and spirit out with it.  
 
Romans 8:32 He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
 
We must become as serious about our relationship with God as He is about His relationship with us.  I struggled with my salvation early on because I didn’t know what God required of me.  It took me several years to comprehend the love He has for me.  He used my own position as a father as a parable to help me understand the love a father has for his children.  No child earns their place in the family, they are born into it.  When a husband becomes a father it is the ultimate expression of his love.  When Jesus taught His disciples to pray He told them to begin by saying:
 
Our Father who art in heaven. . .
 
Often times a father has to sacrifice in order to give his children good things.  A father is not obligated, he is motivated by love.  Christians will struggle in their faith until they yield to the love of their Father.  When the Father sent His Son, Jesus restored our relationship with the Father that Adam once had.  Now He will FREELY give us all things.  When a father gives his kids good things does he charge for them?  Everything God wants to freely give us is our birthright.  When we accept His gifts we acknowledge Him as our Heavenly Father. 

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