Young people and old people are vulnerable. People in between are also vulnerable but they develop skills to camouflage their vulnerabilities so that they are not so obvious to others. We are all weak and full of flaws.
What do we do with our vulnerabilities? We bring them to God, we receive grace for those that may not change in this lifetime and we receive freedom from those that need to be addressed in His light and truth. It is an ongoing process and is only complete when we breathe our last and are finally totally free in Jesus.
What do we do with the vulnerabilities of others? Those vulnerabilities that are not sin but rather the lack of social grace, the little irritations that cause a snigger or a raised brow…I call them the vulnerabilities of nakedness…
Genesis 9:20-25
Habakkuk 2:15-16
God's directive is :
Don't look on the nakedness of someone
Cover people's vulnerabilities from the scrutiny of others
God has no mercy for those who expose others' weaknesses.
I realized this week that I was focusing on the nakedness of someone close to me. It was becoming an irritation and my words revealed my inner thoughts. Words spoken in jest or words spoken unheeded were exposing rather than covering the vulnerability. God's response was decisive. I was so ashamed!
May He who is always merciful, who gently leads me to truth and life without snide remarks and disguised irritation, teach me and cleanse me. May I learn this lesson well!
Psalm 139: 23,24 — “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting"