Graceful sinners?

Perfection! I long for it, not in others, but in myself. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get it right all the time? I sin against God and others too frequently and too easily. I let doubt and fear take over my mind and grow anxious. Envy makes the grass look much greener on the other side of the fence. Anger that has nothing to do with righteousness flares into hurtful words. OK, you’re convinced; I still have a long way to go on the highway of holiness. But, that is part of what makes God’s grace such an amazing gift. Knowing that I am a work in progress, He does not demand perfection, even as He patiently disciplines me to produce the character He desires in me.

Abram heard the voice of God and was graciously blessed by Him – and still sometimes failed miserably and spectacularly! Genesis 12, which records the story of Abram’s trip to Egypt, reveals his sinfulness in a ludicrous episode. He knows that Sarah, his wife, is a beautiful woman. He assumes that Pharaoh will take an interest in having her in his harem. This man who has trusted God with his whole life suddenly gets a bad case of fear and greed which turns him into a selfish sinful idiot! He tells his wife to lie about her relationship to him. "When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.” (Genesis 12:12-13, NLT) This righteous man was willing to compromise his wife’s honor and integrity to save his own skin! His scheme temporarily succeeded. Sarah was noticed, taken into the harem, and Abram got showered with wealth. But, God was not pleased and judged the household of Pharaoh. "Pharaoh called for Abram, “What’s this that you’ve done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she’s your wife? Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister’ so that I’d take her as my wife? Here’s your wife back—take her and get out!”  (Genesis 12:18-19, The Message)

Abram did not escape unscathed either. The very next story in the saga of the patriarch involves the selfishness of his nephew, Lot, who became greedy and selfish, destroying the relationship with his uncle and choosing the best part of the land with no consideration for the needs of the man who had loved and saved him. Do you think that Abram’s self-serving example in Egypt just might have become a model for the younger man?


Sin always has a consequence, often unseen and unanticipated, down the road of life. We can find forgiveness in the grace of God, but the harvest of the seeds planted during our failure will come, sooner or later. God’s grace does not make Him deaf or blind, nor does it break the laws of harvest. In a warning to Christians, the Word says, "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." (Galatians 6:6-8, NLT)


Disciple, realize that perfection waits for the completion of our salvation, but make no excuse for sin! Peter urges us to keep growing. If we fall, and we will, we can recover with repentance and confession. And, always, we look up and forward, with a desire to grow! "We are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. … you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen." (2 Peter 3:13-15, 18, NLT)

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Father, fill me with the Spirit.
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,”
I pray as You taught, for I know all too well the power of sin.
Make me a grace-filled man today.
Teach me to leave the failures behind,
To anticipate new growth of character.
Help me to accept Your discipline which comes my way
‘for my good, that I may share Your holiness.’

Be honored in my thoughts, words, and actions
As is fitting for a graced sinner.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.