I’ve mentioned on several occasions a wise saying my son Andrew has, “You can’t run from your humanity.” God made us humans, most certainly not fallen, but nevertheless human.
That great old evangelist, R.A. Torrey, was speaking at Bob Jones University. As he and Dr. Bob entered the chapel, he said to his dear and close friend, “Bob, I wish I wasn’t the way I am,” referring to his extreme stoicism. That is, he seemed to be indifferent to pleasure, grief, joy and the other things that are associated with this human plague.
In dealing with ourselves and others, we need to remember that we are all products. By this I mean that we are the victims of the fall, heredity, temperament, upbringing, and a host of other particulars, many of which are not of our choosing. We had no control over many of the warts and blemishes in our character.
Grace is a marvelous thing, but it does not put a new leg on an amputee, or eyeballs in empty sockets; some things we need to learn to live with. Jesus knows the weakness of our fallen humanity, in spite of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. “The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”~ Mk. 14:38
Therefore don’t be too awfully hard on yourself or others who are made out of the same dust as yourself. Let's give a little elbow room to both parties.
In reference to this subject, my late wife called to my attention a scripture that carries a lot of weight. “I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad,"~ Psa. 119:96. As she so quaintly put it, “God gives us a little wiggle room.”
Richard the Aged
You're more than welcome. As Popeye would say, "I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam,"
What a helpful article to read at the beginning of a new year when we can become almost overwhelmed with goal-setting and all we hope to improve in ourselves. Thank you!