Christ’s Tenderness

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 21, 1875

Christ’s Tenderness.

It is enjoined upon Christians that they strengthen themselves in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; but how many there are that neglect this duty, and all their lives travel on their journey like Bunyan’s pilgrims—Feeble-mind and Ready-to-halt. They are like a bruised reed and smoking flax—weak, feeble, suffering Christians—babes, and not strong men in Christ Jesus. But such is the wonderful condescension and sympathy of the Lord Jesus Christ that to even such Christians he gives precious promises. He will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax. That is, wherever he finds a spark of grace, he will watch over it with care.

Indeed, he knows that it is the weak, feeble Christian that specially needs his help. The father cares more tenderly for the feeble infant than for the strong, robust one. If it cannot walk alone, he extends his hand and gently leads it. So it is with the Saviour—he carries the lambs in his bosom. Paul was in great trouble; he had a thorn in the flesh, which made him feel very weak, and he prayed to God for help, and the answer came, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” And such was his experience of the strengthening grace of the Saviour that he said, “Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me; . . . for when I am weak then am I strong.”

While feeble Christians should seek strength, and all should desire to become strong men and women in Christ Jesus, yet there is no room for despondency on the part of the weakest saint. There are many things a weak Christian cannot do. He may not be able, like Greatheart, to kill the Giant Despair, but he can live in the fear of the Lord, and so claim the promise, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” The father pities and helps the weak, suffering child. So our Heavenly Father will pity and help his weak, feeble child, even though it is fitly compared to a bruised reed and smoking flax. Listen to his cheering words: “Fear not, thou worm Jacob.” You are weak and feeble, it is true, “but thou shalt thresh mountains.” My strength shall be perfected in your weakness.—Sel.