1/19/11–Old Sins Die Hard, Sometimes

As I continue studying the life of Abraham a little more in-dephtly, I am drawn this time to a little encounter Abraham had in Gerar with King Abimelech. Once again, Abraham and Sarah make the choice to lie about their marriage and tell this king from a strange land that they are not married, but are brother and sister. A LOT could be said about this, but I focus today on Abraham’s reasoning as to why they did this. In Genesis 20:13, Abraham tells Abimelech, “And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.”

What is interesting about this statement Abraham makes is that it was said before Abraham and Sarah went down to Egypt, or the FIRST time that they made this mistake (Gen. 12:13). Even though they had experienced and lived through their sin and mistake the first time, they did not learn from it.

This is a reminder to all of us today of that old phrase we have heard many times before, “Old Habits Die Hard.” Paul said it this way in Romans 7:15-17, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.  (16)  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.  (17)  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” There is a spiritual battle that we must go through every day. Old sins do die hard, sometimes. But let us pray after the example Jesus left for us and ask (Matthew 6:13), “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

Heavenly Father, we seek your presence and your power in our life today. Often, we find ourselves a lot like the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. Our spirit cries from within us to reach out to you, yet we are weak in our flesh and often fall asleep spiritually and return to the old habits of sin. Help us Lord to follow the advice of Paul and die to our flesh and desires daily, and walk with you in humility and in love. In Jesus name we pray and ask these things. Amen.