Encouragement

Men whom God favored, and to whom He entrusted great responsibilities, were sometimes overcome by temptation and committed sin, even as we at the present day strive, waver, and frequently fall into error.

 

Their lives, with all their faults and follies, are open before us, both for our encouragement and warning.

 

If they had been represented as without fault, we, with our sinful nature, might despair at our own mistakes and failures.

 

But seeing where others struggled through discouragements like our own, where they fell under temptation as we have done, and yet took heart again and conquered through the grace of God, we are encouraged in our striving after righteousness.

 

As they, though sometimes beaten back, recovered their ground, and were blessed of God, so we too may be overcomers in the strength of Jesus. 

{AG 255.5}