Jerry came wheeling into the kitchen last night, asking if I was still cleaning. “Sure,” I said, knowing that he was aware of my nightly schedule after dinner.
Since his amputation eight years ago, he feels badly that most of the work falls on me. Last night was no exception. He thinks that it is a drudgery for me to cook and clean for him. After his comment, I said, “Stop! You can’t take away my joy. The Lord planned years ago that this would be His grace and joy to me.” He said, “I wouldn’t want to take that away.” 🙂
In writing Two Full Plates ~ Learning to be a Caregiver I realized that the Lord began preparing me for this role, and the reward of it, when I was only a little girl, trained at an early age to wash the dishes and make the beds everyday. Today these are done as naturally as brushing my teeth, although more rewarding. These are also good times to memorize and practice the hymns and psalms that we will be singing next Lord’s Day.
Jesus washed the feet of His disciples as an example for us, but more than this, died for us, to deliver us from the drudgery of the world, and to know the joy in serving Him and others.
In His presence is fullness of joy, no matter the task. Work can be drudgery or a joy depending on the heart and the spirit. A task done, as unto the Lord, and to His glory, is not work, but a pleasure. The mind and the heart follow where He leads no matter the place or activity.
“Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
John 16:22
Dear Father, thank you for teaching us, and by your Spirit working in us, the joy of each day’s work and pleasure in you and our Lord Jesus Christ. In His name I pray. Amen.
As we come to the end of our year’s review of Humility~The Beauty of Holiness (PDF) by Andrew Murray there are certain things that are evident. These remain ever and always throughout this life, and concern not only the whole of this life but the next.
1. Pride must be slain; it is our worst enemy.
2. We must die to self.
3. We must humble ourselves before God and men.
We have found these to be necessary for holiness and a real relationship with God; and for any worthwhile relationship with man. They are also beyond our doing. The supernatural things required in this life by our Creator and Redeemer are realized only by His own power working in and through us as His creation.
As vessels created and redeemed for His glory we must be emptied, so that He has His rightful place in us to do His work. A vessel filled with pride has no room for God. We have as much power to die to self as we do to create ourselves. When we know the power of the heavenly Father working through His Spirit, His Word, in our hearts, minds, and our circumstances, we are brought to see the humility that is still needed.
When we realize that we need the humility of Christ, desire it, pray for it, seek it with all our hearts ~ even as we seek Christ with all our hearts ~ He will work it in us. Though we would want it to happen overnight we see that it is a lifetime process. We may lose count of how many times we are knocked off our pedestal of pride, broken, chastised, and humiliated by others; but if we are God’s children He will shake us lose from the gripe of pride, bring us to deny self, humble ourselves and follow Christ in His humility.
“He must increase; I decrease.” John 3:30
Exaltation happens from the ground up. Until we are low enough we are too heavy to be raised. Until we are empty we have no room for the love that fills and lifts us by His grace. We have nothing of our own worth keeping. A vessel held up on its own continues to fall and remains unfilled, hungry, and desolate for what He gives.
It is not until God has everything that we get anything.
In His own power He raises us to fulfill in us all for which He created and redeemed us ~ that He would show forth His glory through us for His service, His own praise and exaltation; that we may “glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.” (Shorter Catechism)
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place,
with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Isaiah 57:15
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us month to month through this study again. You have shown that it must be a continual study, accompanied by your Word and the Spirit of Christ in us. Thank you for pressing upon our hearts the need and fulfillment that you are able to provide. Keep us ever seeking Christ and His humility so that nothing prevents the work of your praise and service through us for your names’ sake and for your glory. I ask a special blessing for those who have been with us this year for this review; and for any who may read these later. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Jesus was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit; and born of her.
He finished the work of salvation for His people; and returned to the glory of the Father.
~ So that He is now filling us with His grace; by the Holy Spirit birthing us into His kingdom, and swaddling us with His love.
He is continually filling and overwhelming us, so as to conform us to His image and bring us to His glory.
Gracious Father, we praise you for your plan of redemption. No man could have thought of such a means of saving your people. Open our hearts to your Spirit and the life of Christ in us that delivers us from the law of sin and death. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
“Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,” Ecclesiastes 7:7
Oppression is not an ordinary subject of conversation, nor one that we spend much time thinking about; but it has become a primary thought for me, which has grown to greater proportions of my thinking in the last three years. It came to a point just a few months ago ~ at the point of deliverance; and I have just begun to know what to write about this subject of which most are not aware. I am not speaking here of the new birth that is ours in Christ at conversion, but beyond this, to a realization of where we live, even as Christians, in the world today; in the deliverance from the spirit of oppression that pervades and rules this world.
The thought of oppression usually comes when we hear of the holocaust. Christians associate the word with the Israelites’ bondage in Egypt. In other countries beyond the United States we hear of oppression, but we don’t consider the idea of oppression as pertaining to our own lives. We live in a free country where we have the liberty to do what we want to do, go where we want to go, and say what we want to say. We can choose our own circle of friends and the sounds we want to hear, or we can choose isolation and silence. Either of our own choosing makes it seem as if we are free. But my purpose in writing on this subject is to make aware the truth that, in this world we are all under oppression. Until we are delivered from oppression we will not understand this truth. It is when we are free that we can look back and see where we were.
An example that comes to mind is that of the Pharisees, when Jesus opened the eyes of the man who had been blind from birth. Jesus had come to heal the sick of heart and to open the eyes of the blind. The Pharisees did not know that they were blind and so, could not be healed. They were unaware that they were oppressed and that they were oppressors.
My meditations in Galatians have helped to bring some thoughts together on this matter of oppression. Paul’s salutation to the churches in Galatia is “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age….” (Galatians 1:3) Who considers that we all live in this same evil age? This is the bad news of oppression; but the good news is that the Lord Jesus Christ is still delivering His people. He came once and for all time to save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”Psalm 9:9
Sin and Oppression
So, how are we associating sin with oppression? We shall attempt to show the twin effect of the two. Oppression can bring about sin; and sin can bring about oppression. It is a vicious cycle, but one that we need to understand. When we are delivered from the power of one we are delivered from the power of both. They both stem from the fallen nature of man. No one is exempt, no matter how free we think we are.
The extent of this matter, like many others that come to mind, cannot be covered in a single article. So far we have the biblical references that speak of oppression and deliverance from it. These alone are eye opening. Deliverance from oppression begins by definition, seeing where it began, where we are individually in the state of oppression, how it is perpetuated, how we are delivered, the reality of deliverance, and the deliverance of others.
We will end this introduction with the definition. (Mirriam-Webster)
Oppression: noun
a. Unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power
b. Something that oppresses especially in being an unjust or excessive exercise of power
A sense of being weighed down in body or mind
I welcome your comments. If there is interest I may share with other posts on this subject.
“In righteousness shalt thou be established:
thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.” Isaiah 54:14
Dear Father, thank you for another blessed day of your grace and peace. We praise you for delivering us from the power of darkness and translating us into the kingdom of your dear Son. Let us with true freedom in Christ share this good news with those who are still in bondage. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
In following the Shepherd, I have attempted to keep my mind pure. I have learned not to read certain books or articles. But, online it is difficult to avoid images that may be offensive; those that we know are abominable to God. There are some that cause me to tremble, and others grieve my heart. The main problem with these is that once seen they are etched in my mind, and difficult to delete. I used to use the symbol of the cross to white out the picture in my mind. But that did not always work because it is not a full picture. Recently I knew I needed something broader; and so with the following picture imposed Psalm 23. (If you know the source of this picture please let me know.) The image represents the power of God’s word over all things; the source to which I turn in any situation. The cross is simply a reminder of how God’s word and power have been brought to me. Psalm 23 is one of the first Psalms I learned as a child, and on which I have relied in my life.
You may ask me why I did not choose a picture of Jesus to replace unpleasant images. In a few simple terms I will explain where I have come in relation to these images.
Jesus Christ is the image of the living God (Colossians 1:15); the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3). God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24) Christ is the truth (John 14:6) I am in the Father, and the Father is in me (John 14:10). I and my Father are one (John 10:30).
Jesus has said, and I believe that He is God, the visible image of the invisible God. No one has seen God except the Son. Neither Jesus, nor anyone in His day attempted to paint a true picture of the invisible God, nor did anyone from His day leave an image of Jesus. Anyone who has drawn from their own imagination what they think Jesus looked like are using figments that will never come together to form anything close to His spiritual beauty and holiness. These images have become ludicrous to me as I desire to worship God in spirit and truth.
These images are used in many different forms, even as animations to aid in presenting the gospel. They are fictitious and can stand in the way of the gospel being presented to a hungry soul who needs the Holy Spirit to imprint the truth of Jesus Christ in their hearts. The true Jesus needs no images. He leaves His own impression in the mind and the heart. The lives of His followers are the true images that are portrayed in this world.
Like the images on canvas, many people are portraying a false impression of Jesus Christ to the world.
A second point is that images of Jesus depict Him here on earth. He is no longer just a baby in a manger, nor a teacher/preacher/shepherd, nor a man dying on a cross, but He is the risen Savior/Redeemer, the High Priest of Heaven, King of kings and Lord of lords, interceding for us; ruling and reigning until He has put all enemies under His feet. Only a few men have seen God in his glory. Moses, Elijah, Isaiah had special revelations before Jesus came to earth. John beheld His glory after He ascended back to the Father, Paul saw His light. But none of these were given images. Neither His glory nor the essence of His holiness can be captured by the human mind.
Leave me with God’s word and the true Shepherd, Savior, Prophet, Priest and King will lead me by His Spirit to remember Him. He will keep me and transform my thinking and images according to His truth and His love.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
Dear heavenly Father, we need your protection for our eyes and ears. Make us to know your presence and power with us today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
The last two chapters of Andrew Murray’s Humility (PDF) are extremes. From this chapter that deals with the valley, the last chapter takes us to the pinnacle. When we reach the depths of humility then we are lifted to the heights of Christ’s glory. And here is true happiness on this earth. This is not the experience for most believers. Most of us know nothing of the consecration and persecution that comes from following Christ. And we must remember that none of this is our own work. It is always the supernatural power of God working in the believer.
In this chapter, we see how Paul got where he was; from the height of his own glory, to the depths of his own weakness, and then to the glory of Christ’s sufficiency. He, like some of the Old Testament prophets and like John in his recording of Revelation, had been blessed with revelations of a higher kind than is usual for man. Paul did not record these, but they were of such that, he could have been exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations.
From His Own Glory He was brought down so as not to glory in such visions. How? The thorn in the flesh was not described as a physical infirmity, but as the buffeting of Satan.
“Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;” 1 Corinthians 4:11
What he learned in his state of humility was how to live in response to infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, and distress; he knew they were all for Christ’s sake. He could glory and find pleasure in these things because he knew they were his sufferings for Christ.
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Philippians 3:10
It is in our own experiences that we will know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings, so as to be humbled and made conformable unto His death ~ the death of self.
There are people in the New Testament that our heavenly Father has recorded for our imitation ~ especially Jesus Christ His Son, and then the apostle Paul. If we spend our time in this life researching the life of Christ, and how Paul was called and given up to follow Christ we shall see the purpose of Christ’s coming and dying for His people. We shall see the work of the Holy Spirit in drawing a person to Christ, and the devotion and obedience of faith that only He can bring about in this world.
Other Examples So that this review will not be so long I ask you, the Reader, to read this chapter from the book. In this article I want to allude to other examples that reflect the truth that Murray is sharing, and to record my own impressions.
Beginning with our Lord’s own words from Matthew 5:10-12 we remember:
“Blessed (happy) are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
The name, the glory and power of God and Jesus Christ are revealed in the New Testament as relating to times of persecution because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the book of Acts when the apostles, having been beaten and commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Acts 5:40-42
From Simon Peter’s Letter “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;” 1 Peter 3:14
Peter reminds those believers who were being persecuted, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14
As they were a part of Christ’s sufferings He was being glorified. They could be happy knowing and experiencing the spirit of glory and of God resting upon them.
They could endure the evil done to them knowing the promise that just as Christ suffered for them they could suffer for Him and also share His glory.
“Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:” Colossians 1:24
We owe our thanks and praise to the work of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s life. His sufferings and afflictions were counted to him as for the sake of the church. As we see in Paul’s life what it meant to deny self and follow Christ, we have enough visions to lead us to humility and to follow Christ. In this is our only means of survival and true life here and for eternity.
Others are following in our footsteps. What do they see; do they see the true Christ in us? Do they see the happiness in our humility in serving Christ? Will they be led to self-denial, willing to suffer for Christ’s sake and His church, to rejoice in the Lord through any circumstance?
Gracious Father, we, in this country know nothing of the persecution that Paul and the early Christians endured. We pray for those who are suffering for Christ’s sake, that they not only endure but be filled with the power of your Spirit to rejoice in the Lord in the middle of persecution. Let their oppressors see the joy and power of Christ in them and wonder at such great salvation that you bring to your people.
Prepare us for such persecution that is sure to come in this nation. Have mercy upon us as your people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
It has been said that one picture is worth a thousand words. While we sometimes need images to help us see a hidden truth there is no image that will portray the word “faith.” Many people look at the cross, but walk away unmoved and unchanged from their thinking. The picture means nothing to them. Some look but reject the truth of the gospel, thinking that they are good enough. They, like the Jews, in response to the good news of a Messiah and a Mediator have established their own righteousness. Without knowledge, they are ignorant of God’s righteousness; His righteousness established in and through His Son, Jesus Christ.
We, who have been born of His Spirit, given a new heart, a new spirit, and a new life, are brought through conviction and repentance by the goodness of the Lord and the power of the gospel, to see Christ as the end of the law for rightousness. (Romans 10:4)
Romans 10 gives us the image of CHRIST, the only means of righteousness before God. Christ is the center, the heart, the beauty of the Gospel, its power and its glory. It comes to us through the knowledge of His word. We need nothing else but the truth of the gospel and the Holy Spirit to work His righteousness in us. We do not need to bring anything else down from heaven, or anything up from the dead.
Since Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension we have ample witness to the righteousness that has been supplied for us. We have all that is needed. We have the gospel that has been preserved for centuries, but the power of the gospel that brings nations to obedience of faith is not in the word itself, but in God’s will and compassion to fill our hearts with grace for believing it; for faith and obedience.
“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. Romans 10:8-10 Compare the following from Ephesians 2:8-10
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Those who have the word of faith in the heart know the beauty of it. We carry it; we confess it, not just to God, Himself. We preach it in all that we say and do, wherever we go. We live it to His glory and our joy.
Dear Father, let those who see us and hear our hearts speak, know that all is from you, the beauty of Christ, the center and whole of life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Having lost a sister-in-law and a brother-in-law in less than a month has brought me to think beyond my own state of existence to something higher than man and life here on this earth. Such is the case with recording my notes as we continue hearing the preaching of Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Again, Paul’s purpose for writing to the Roman Christians is to bring not just one or two, but, some from every nation, to obedience of faith. It is in the power of the gospel that accomplishes what God sent His Son to do; the Son of God with power (1:4) the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. (1:16-17). We start with God and continue in a God-centered gospel through the book of Romans.
As we come to the most unpopular and unsettled passages of God’s word (for some) in Romans 9 we must, as Paul, let God speak for Himself. In chapter eight Paul begins writing on the doctrine of predestination. If that is not enough he drives the point home dramatically in the next three chapters, to the point of showing that God has the last word on the subject. Getting through these we come to chapter twelve; to which we are brought in response to His mercy; to present ourselves, as living sacrifices to Him.
Not a Man-centered Gospel A man-centered gospel cannot save anyone. It tends to bring God down to our own level and make Him what we want Him to be and to say what we want to hear.
Paul answers this kind of reasoning in his day, not by using his own understanding or his own words, but even as Jesus when He was tempted answered with the recorded word of the Father, words that had already been established centuries before.
In Romans 9:14-15 Paul states, in defense of God’s own choice of who He loves, “Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
Then in Romans 9:21 he puts man in the hands of a potter. A pot has no mind of its own, nor power of its own to decide what shape or for what use it is made.
“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth,
but of God that sheweth mercy.” Romans 9:16
As the creature we are at God’s mercy. Read the book of Romans and any part of God’s word, and our mouths will be shut, until we know His mercy and grace to us.
Then we will be thanking and praising Him for giving us a new heart and a new spirit. A new life beginning in faith and repentance will prove the power of God in our obedience to His word. The Lord our God leaves no room for argument, only the invitation and power to believe and live heavenward, to His glory and our joy.
“And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy,
which he had afore prepared unto glory.” Romans 9:23
Gracious and merciful Father, thank you that we live today only as you give us the Spirit of your Son to accomplish the work for which you created and redeemed us. We praise you for your grace and yours alone that has saved us from your wrath and made us a vessel for your own use. Fill us with your fullness that you may pour out your grace and love through us today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
In this Year of Humility we have been learning from Andrew Murray’s Humility (PDF) the meaning, the means, and the working of humility in the Christian life. In this tenth chapter we come to the aim of humility, the end goal, and that is, death. Let us remember where humility originated, and follow its course to the effect it has in our own lives.
Humility began in heaven with God. In Jesus He condescended to the human level, so that He might save us from our sinful state. Christ, in humility and obedience to the Father’s will, with no plans of His own, gave up His position of glory to live a life here on earth, a life that He would share with us. For Him to accomplish this act for our salvation He had to humble Himself in order to die.
What if, in a very strategic situation, you need help? Someone offers, but you refuse, because the terms of the one who is able to help you are not to your liking. You die because you refused what could have saved your life.
What if, in a life-threatening position, you have the opportunity to live, but you cannot let go of something that you are holding on to.
These are both cases that are analogous to refusal of the salvation that is offered in Christ.
Again, think of life that is promised if we not only let go of things that we hold dear in this life, but to give up our own life. Death to self is the only means of true life. And humility is the only means of coming to the end of self. Without humility there is no promise for life. True humility leads us to die to self. In all this we see that the true life is the humble life that is ours in Christ; now and for eternity.
“Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Matthew 16:25
Revelation, Desire, Prayer, Reality I speak from experience, as I say that humility is not a human trait, but that gift from heaven, through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, given to men for the abundant life that He promised those who come to Him. As much as I desire to live the humble life it seems still a supernatural life that I look forward to and pray for. As soon as I think I have a little humility, the oppressive spirit of the enemy assaults, and pride rears its ugly head.
(Oppression is a subject that I am studying and hope to write about.)
In Paul’s letters to the Romans and the Galatians he teaches us that the flesh and the Spirit are at war against each other. The hope (another gift) that we are given keeps us in prayer and more watchfulness against the wiles of the devil. He wants us dead, but not to self.
These truths are revealed to us by the Spirit, regenerating us with a new heart and a new spirit; so that we, seeing our ignorance and pride come to repentance and faith, our first step of humility toward growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. One step leads to another as we desire this humility, pray for it, and by His working, humble ourselves, deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
God Uses All Things for Our Humbling Every time I read this book I come away with the same impressive statement Murray makes in this chapter. It is similar to Romans 8:28-29. It has made a difference in my life to see everything under God’s sovereignty working through everything whatever He wants to do in my life.
“Accept every humiliation, look upon every fellow-man who tries or vexes you, as a means of grace to humble you.Use every opportunity of humbling yourself before your fellow-man as a help to remain humble before God. It is by the mighty strengthening of His Holy Spirit that God reveals Christ fully in you.”
“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Romans 8:25
Dear Father, you knew when you started all this, that we would need everything from you to make it work to your glory. All that you expect from us is supernatural and beyond our doing; but you have put it into our hearts and promised us, that you are exceedingly abundantly able to do more than we can ask for or imagine, by the power of your Spirit working in us. Thank you for coming down to us that you might bring us up to yourself. Enable us to die to self; to raise up by your divine power to live in praise unto you. “Of your great goodness make known to me and take from my heart every kind and form and degree of pride; and awaken in me the deepest depth and truth of that humility which can make me capable of your light and your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
In writing Two Full Plates ~ Learning to be a Caregiver I realized that the Lord began preparing me for this role, and the reward of it, when I was only a little girl, trained at an early age to wash the dishes and make the beds everyday. Today these are done as naturally as brushing my teeth, although more rewarding. These are also good times to memorize and practice the hymns and psalms that we will be singing next Lord’s Day.
