The world rewards and celebrates the strong and despises the weak. Even in the church, we admire Christians who appear to be strong. and point to Bible verses such as Ephesians 6:11, which starts with, “Be strong.”
But we must not be people of the world and we must be people of the whole Bible, and make sure we read verses in their context. Today’s verse is very clear:
“For you do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses …” (Hebrews 4:15)
We need to recognise that we are weak and that we have weaknesses. The word “weaknesses” covers all aspects of weakness: physical weakness, weakness when tempted, mental frailty, doubts, fears, sickness, trouble.
It is only when we see our weakness that we will see our need and lean on our Saviour. Ephesians 6:11 (quoted above) doesn’t just say “Be strong”; it says “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
The Bible never says “Be strong in yourself.” That is the way of the world. That is the way to live independent lives where you miss out on God’s strength, you don’t enjoy the comfort of Jesus lifting you out of your sorrows and sins, where you have to pretend to the world that you are OK when you are not.
Brothers and sisters, true Christianity starts with seeing your weakness. When you see your weakness, you can go to your High Priest, Jesus, just as you are. You don’t have to pretend. You don’t have to try and be strong in yourself.
We haven’t got to wait until we are good enough. We just need to come to Him.
Just as I am without one plea. This great old hymn is not simply an expression of faith for the first time, but an ongoing coming to Him, our Saviour, without one plea except that His blood was shed for me.
The best is yet to come 