July 12
Read: Romans 8:24-28
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (Romans 8:26).
Human Infirmities
Because of his human limitations the sanctified Christian often falls short of a perfect manifestation of the spirit of love that God has put into his heart. But these human infirmities are not sins. The Bible teaches a difference between manifestations of carnality and expressions of our sin-weakened human nature. Paul reminds us that “we have this treasure in earthen vessels.” Every sanctified Christian soon becomes aware that his vessel is pretty earthy.
We may fail because of ignorance; not understanding all of the facts in a situation, we do the wrong thing. We sometimes fail through weakness; not relying fully upon God, we fall short of high performance. Neither can rightly be called sin. Neither is intentional and therefore it does not bring guilt. But always this kind of failure brings to the sanctified Christian humiliation and regret. We are never to be satisfied with anything less than doing the will of God as fully as we know how.
When overtaken in such faults, we do not give up our faith in Christian holiness. Rather, having learned what God can do for us in the instantaneous experience of entire sanctification, we now press on to discover how the Holy Spirit can help us in our infirmities. The life of holiness is a life of spiritual victory through wholehearted love for Christ and complete loyalty to His will for
- We are pained by human frailties, but not paralyzed by them. We press on to a more perfect life and service tomorrow.
I want to live above the world, Tho’ Satan’s darts at me are hurled; For faith has caught the joyful sound, The song of saints on higher ground.
— Johnson Oatman, Jr.