Abraham the Intercessor

. . . but Abraham still stood before the LORD (Genesis 18:22).

FAITH which is never tested will never grow strong. Faith must be exercised or it will ever be weak. This is the reason God permits the trials and the temptations which characterize the life of every believer and test his faith, sometimes to the very limit of endurance. Steel must be tempered with fire to become keen. A tree must face storms in order to become strong and be pruned if it is to bring forth fruit. Gold cannot be purified without passing through the fire. Silver must be constantly polished to remain bright. The soil must be plowed and broken and crushed before it can bring forth fruit. Even so, the believer needs to be constantly tried and tested if he is to grow in faith and become a fruitful Christian.

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Hebrews 12:6).

Adapted and modified excerpts from Studies in the Life of Abraham by M. R. De Haan (1891-1964)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
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