Do the Weak Remain Weak?

Do the Weak Remain Weak?

And do the poor remain poor? This can be answered with a “Yes” or it can be answered with a “No.” As truly as the above-mentioned expressions refer to the human spirit, their weakness and poverty must remain to a certain degree—as long as there is anything left of the human spirit that has not been made alive—or as long as there is any body of sin left.

The answer must be “No” if you think of the same manifestations of weakness and wretchedness. A member with a weak human spirit becomes strong in Christ and in the power of His might just as much as the strong person, and even more so, because it is easier for him to notice his weakness and therefore it is easier for him to seek strength from God.

When he is weak, he relies much more on God’s strength and is therefore in reality much stronger than the strong person who can be deceived by the strength of his own spirit, and thereby—at a given moment— is found to be so much weaker than the weak person.

We will feel embarrassed by the newly converted, fickle human natures even in front of worldly people, for even they can see their foolishness and weakness. However, since all the members live the same life and are growing up in all things into Him who is the Head, those who are on the outside will no longer discover any weakness and foolishness in those members; but those who are on the inside will notice it. If we, by being devoted to God, race ahead of the others who are on the inside, we can imagine that then even they will not notice it. God notices it, and we will have the opportunity of noticing it ourselves.

The difficult spirits will, by being partly transformed, become less baffling; but their human spirit is still marked by baffling characteristics. Think of the natural body! I wonder if the less honorable member will in due course outgrow the things that imply that which is dishonorable, so that we stop covering it up? We are forced to answer: “No!”