Core Truth:While we are often prone to blame the weaknesses of our flesh as the reason for our failure to live better lives as Christians, the truth of the matter is really not that we are too weak, but that we are too strong…too strong in self-will and self-sufficiency as we struggle to live the Christian life our way and in our own strength, instead of learning to allow the all-sufficient Christ to simply live His own victorious life in and through us – something He is patiently longing to do.
Scripture: Genesis 32:24-25, 31
And Jacob was left alone, and a Man wrestled with him until daybreak. And when the Man saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint ... Then the Man said, ‘Let me go, for day is breaking.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing upon me.’ The Man asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob!’ And He said, ‘Your name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed.’ Then Jacob asked Him, ‘Tell me, I pray You, what is Your name?’ But the man said, ‘Why is it that you ask My name?’ And the Angel of God declared a blessing on him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [the face of God], saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and my life is spared and not snatched away.’ And as he passed Peniel, the sun rose upon him, and he was limping because of his thigh.