I Still Struggle…
“Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” - Hebrews 2:18
When you read the story of Abraham, you see a clear Achilles heel. From Genesis 12 to 20, we see a 25-year span between Abraham committing the same sin. In Genesis 12, we saw him lie to the king of Egypt about his relationship to his wife, and in Genesis 20, he does it again.
Apparently, this propensity to lie about his marriage to Sarah was his Achilles heel. As I read this text, I wondered why the writer of this text would duplicate such a shameful incident from Abraham’s life. Why tell us again about this moral flaw and ethical vulnerability in the character profile of such a great man of God?
What are we to gain from reading about his moral weakness again? Why not tell us about his riches, his wealth, his possessions, his success, and great faith? Why not tell us about his worship life, the people he has helped, and the progress he is making?
It is because God wants us to understand what it is that makes for true spiritual success. That spiritual success does not mean we are morally perfect and have no flaws. That spiritual success does not mean there aren’t issues we aren’t still wrestling with.
This story is included in the record of Abraham’s walk with God to remind us that even after an extended period of time with God, even after going from Abram to Abraham, that we, like him, continue to face areas of personal struggle and spiritual challenge.
Even after you get saved you can have some of the same struggles that you had before you got saved. Even after you join the church and become active in it, you can still have some of the same moral failings and ethical struggles you had before.
Being a believer and following Christ does not alienate you from sin, temptation, and struggle. You are still human. Despite this Achilles heel, we see God use Abraham in a big way. You might be struggling with something, but God can still use you. He can still work in you! He did a work in Abraham’s life, and He will do it in yours too!
When you read the story of Abraham, you see a clear Achilles heel. From Genesis 12 to 20, we see a 25-year span between Abraham committing the same sin. In Genesis 12, we saw him lie to the king of Egypt about his relationship to his wife, and in Genesis 20, he does it again.
Apparently, this propensity to lie about his marriage to Sarah was his Achilles heel. As I read this text, I wondered why the writer of this text would duplicate such a shameful incident from Abraham’s life. Why tell us again about this moral flaw and ethical vulnerability in the character profile of such a great man of God?
What are we to gain from reading about his moral weakness again? Why not tell us about his riches, his wealth, his possessions, his success, and great faith? Why not tell us about his worship life, the people he has helped, and the progress he is making?
It is because God wants us to understand what it is that makes for true spiritual success. That spiritual success does not mean we are morally perfect and have no flaws. That spiritual success does not mean there aren’t issues we aren’t still wrestling with.
This story is included in the record of Abraham’s walk with God to remind us that even after an extended period of time with God, even after going from Abram to Abraham, that we, like him, continue to face areas of personal struggle and spiritual challenge.
Even after you get saved you can have some of the same struggles that you had before you got saved. Even after you join the church and become active in it, you can still have some of the same moral failings and ethical struggles you had before.
Being a believer and following Christ does not alienate you from sin, temptation, and struggle. You are still human. Despite this Achilles heel, we see God use Abraham in a big way. You might be struggling with something, but God can still use you. He can still work in you! He did a work in Abraham’s life, and He will do it in yours too!
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