God Works With Flawed Material

Richard R. Losch wrote an encyclopedia of All the People in the Bible.  Losch notes that “most of the great leaders of Judaism and Christianity started out as the worst sort of scoundrels.”  He cites Abraham as an example who "lied and cheated his way through Egypt in order to save his own skin."  Then there is Jacob, who cheated his brother out of a birthright and a paternal blessing; and David, an adulterer and murderer who, according to Losch, was “a terrible husband and a worse father.”  Yet, as Losch reminds us, God “working with such flawed material, molded them into spiritual powerhouses…. We who are equally flawed should find great encouragement in this.”

What made these Bible figures spiritually great?  They repented, sometimes being humbled by the Almighty through great adversity.  Adversity can be our friend.  Trials temper our souls. How are you handling the troubles in your life?