714 The Spiritual Man
a large measure of bodily power that we may never again suffer or be
sick. But this was evidently not the experience of the Apostle, for
does he not definitely declare that “we who live are always delivered
unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be
manifested in our mortal flesh”? Paul’s flesh was frequently
weakened, but the strength of the Lord Jesus continuously flowed
into him. He lived momentarily by the life of the Lord. To accept
Him as life for our body requires constant trust. In ourselves we
cannot meet any situation at any time; but by trusting continually in
the Lord we receive moment by moment all the necessary strength.
This is what is meant by the words spoken by God through
Jeremiah: “I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to
which you may go” (45.5). We are not to deem ourselves safe and
secure because of our own inherent strength; we must instead
commit ourselves to the life of the Lord for every breath. In this
alone is safety, for He alone ever lives. We do not possess any
reserve power which enables us to move as we wish; each time we
need strength we must draw from the Lord. A moment’s drawing is
good for that moment’s living; there is no possibility of holding a
little in reserve. This is a life completely united with, and exclusively
dependent upon, the Lord. “I live because of the Father, so he who
eats me will live because of me” (John 6. 57). Precisely there is the
secret of this life. Were we able to live independently of the life-
giving Lord, we would renounce this heart of utter reliance and live
according to our own will! And would we not then be like those of
the world, wasting our strength? God wants us to have a constant
trust as well as a constant need. Just as the manna long ago had to be
gathered daily, so our bodies must momentarily live by God.
By walking in this fashion we will not limit our work by any
inherent power nor will we always be anxious because of the body. If
it is God’s will, we must dare to walk this way, however much man’s
wisdom may consider it risky. For God is our strength; and we are
but waiting to be sent. In ourselves we have no power to undertake