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The Frailties of Humanity

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 12, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 40.

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The Frailties of Humanity

By C. H. Bliss

C. H. BLISS
“LORD, teach me to know how frail I am.” This prayer, when answered, taught the ancient prophet to say, “I am a worm, and no man.” There are people who are proud of their beauty, their intellect, or their talent. They love to look into their mirror — not the mirror of God’s law, which reveals the true character, but the one they have made. But when the Holy Spirit comes as a reprover of sin, and they see themselves as God sees them, they cry out in the language of the prophet, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips.” Even after a long life of Christian service, a true child of God will see so many failures that he will realize that all boasting is vain. Like Paul, he will say, “I am the least” of all.
After years of service in the cause of God I cannot see one act on which I can depend for reward or merit. Every work seems marred with sin. While my will was submissive to God, my flesh rebelled. But God be praised, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are told, “It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” It is God who justifies and sanctifies and glorifies. He takes us as we are.
“Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me.”
On man’s part, it is faith and trust and submission to God. We are clay in the hands of the potter, so that from first to last, from the beginning of this life to the end, God is all in all. And when the end of life comes, we can only say, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” and “Save me by thy grace, for I put my trust in thee.”
Peoria, Ill.