Insights from A. Murray book on "Humility" - Chapters 4 and 5

Humility in the teaching of Jesus - Chapter 4
Humility in the disciples of Jesus - Chapter 5

These two chapters and the Bible verses cited in the text led me to ponder Jesus' words as if I were reading them for the first time -

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matt. 5:3,5).

...learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matt. 11:29).

Am I seeing Jesus as He truly is and focused on learning from Him?
Am I letting the Lord expose my pride and unbelief so He can affect my thoughts, emotions, actions, habits...?

To find rest for my soul, I need to ask Him to help me die to self (my own ways, will, pride...) so He can live for me. After all Galatians 2:20 tells me that I have been crucified with Christ, I no longer live. He lives in me, and the life I now live, I live by faith in Him who loved me and gave Himself for me.

I often tell my clients that the Lord came to the world to give us mental, emotional, and spiritual health, to give us a new belief system so that we re-think the way we think, feel, and act. I say - there is no such thing as true mental health (rest for the soul) without exchanging pride and self-centered attitudes for humble Christ-centered attitudes.

Last week a lady responded by saying "I haven't heard that before ". Thankfully she is begining to see the Lord in a new way, she is humbling herself, and experiencing some rest for her soul.

In the following paragraph Murray observes that today we all struggle with hidden pride just as Jesus' disciples did long ago -

"Recognizing Our Underlying Pride "
We learn how much there may be of earnest and active Christianity while humility is still sadly lacking. We see this in the disciples. They had a fervent attachment to Jesus. They had forsaken all for Him... They believed in Him... they loved Him... They were ready to die with Him. But deeper than all this, there was the dark power of pride - the existence and hideousness of which they were hardly conscious . It is still the same today. We may find ministers, evangelists, workers, missionaries, and teachers in whom the gifts of the Spirit are visible... yet they lack the grace of humility...pride and self have the all of man, until man has his all from Christ"

No amount of personal effort will cast out pride from our soul! Only the indwelling Christ in you and me can produce a humble mind and heart. If we let Him, Jesus makes Himself one with us and lives our life for us! What an awesome hope!

Insights from A. Murray's "Humility" chapter 3

Humility in the life of Jesus -
I am among you as he that serveth. Luke 22:27

The author calls me to reflect on the statements that demonstrate Jesus' total humility (nothingness) before the Father and before people -

• I am nothing; the Father is all.
• It is not I; I am nothing.
• I can of mine own self do nothing...
• I seek not mine own glory...
• I seek not my own will. I do nothing of myself...

If I believe that "my attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5), I need to confront the following -

• Am I willing to develop the habit of seeing myself as nothing so that God may be all?
• Am I committed to use God's grace moment by moment to imitate His humility?
• Is my deepest desire to become more and more able to say -

I can of mine own self do nothing...

I seek not my own glory (agenda, interests...)

I seek not my own will. I do nothing of myself...

A. Murray's following paragraph in his book "Humility" chapter 3 is a call to see Christ's glorious humility as something we must admire and desire above all else -

"Brother or sister, are you clothed with humility? Look closely at your daily life. Ask Jesus. Ask your friends. Ask the world. And begin to praise God that there is opened up to you in Jesus a heavenly humility that you have hardly known, and through which a heavenly blessedness (which you possibly have never yet tasted) can come into you."

Last Saturday I thought I had the right to have the day to myself. I had my own agenda planned out, nothing bad, just my own thing. While I was getting ready to go out, by His grace I was able to discern a mental question - Today are you about My interests or your own? the answer was obvious, so was my initial resistance to be humble and to obey. By His grace I was able to say yes to His interest to go with me to encourage my next door neighbor. After the visit I was joyous because of the conversation I had with my unbeliever neighbor! What did the Lord remind me that day?

That I am loved and chosen to serve others.

That His grace is present and powerful when I choose to set aside self to imitate His attitude.

That to imitate His attitude (nothingness) in daily living, we all need daily encouragement and accountability. I am writing with this purpose in mind.

Next - I will summarize chapters 4 and 5 of "Humility". I don't want to start reading my next book until something practical in my life results from A. Murray's classic work "Humility".

Desiring all from Christ - First Step: Shift in thinking

A few days ago I received an email from my nice. As I read it I was moved by the obvious activity of God's grace in His children. My niece, Belen, is a bright College student. Before going to College she decided that attending church and a weekly Bible study will be priority in her life.
Belen has been faithful attending church on Sunday and a weekly Bible study "Breakaway" for Christian Aggie students.

We know that attending church, Bible studies, going on retreats, reading Christian books... is essential to grow in knowledge of God's ways, however, to put God's Word to work we need to let His Word affect our mind and heart.

The following is an illustration of someone being affected by God's Word, as a result shift in thoughts, desires, attitudes and actions are happening!!

My niece writes - "Tonight I and my friends went to 'Breakaway', it was amazing! We learned about 'idols' and the need to pray to God to remove them from our lives and replace them with something beautiful - His Word and promisses. It was fabulous!

I and my friends identified that our 'idol' is the desire to have a boyfriend to share our lives with. At the same time we realized that what we need more is to make God our priority, our first love. We decided to start a girl's Bible study. We want to prepare ourselves for the man that He has for us. Pray for us and help us find a book, devotional, or materials to begin our study."

Imagine the impact that all of us believers would make in our spheres of influence if we were truly affected by God's Word and His love! If we would filter everything we say and do through biblical thinking!

No wonder Paul tells us - "Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it... " Romans 12:1-2 (The Message).

I pray that by His grace we may fix our attention on Him and desire Him with all our heart.

"Pride and self have the all of man, until man has his all from Christ" Andrew Murray.

Insights from A. Murray's book "Humility"- Chapter 2

Humility: The Secret of Redemption

It is sobering to think that because Adam and Eve chose to believe Satan rather than God, the poison of Satan's pride enter the human soul. Only when I understand that pride and unbelief damage the very core of human personality, I can understand man's need to be redeemed from pride and unbelief (delivered from self).

Murray writes "Pride has its root and strength in a terrible spiritual power, outside of us as well as within us. We must confess it, deplore it, and be aware of its satanic origin...Pride and humility are the two master powers - the two kingdoms at war for eternal possesion of man... Pride and self have the all of man, until man has his all from Christ".

It is clear that I can't have my all from Christ without shifting my natural focus of attention and energy. I can't imitate Christ's humility without being passionate about Him or without allowing Him to impact (change) my thoughts, desires, motives, expectations... I must use His grace, available at any moment, to enter in the habit of ongoing shifting (ongoing repentance).

As I write I am aware of self-centered desires, priorities, and expectations that need to be shifted within me today in order to have my all from Christ and affect the life of those around me, starting with the person closest to me ( my husband). What would you have to shift within you to receive His grace, humility, love, peace, joy... and impact those around you?

Because of Redemption we don't have to despair! We can see clearly that "pride creeps in almost everywhere", yet by His grace we can, moment by moment, take off our old self with its practices and put on the new self made new in Christ (Col. 3:9-10). A work of grace, pure grace, as we purpose in our hearts to have our all from Christ.

Andrew Murray's summarizes chapter two with an appeal to believers -

"Dear believer, study the humility of Jesus. This is the secret, the hidden root of your redemption. Sink down into it more deeply day by day. Believe with your whole heart that Christ, whom God has given us, will work in us, making us what the Father wants us to be."

It is a glorious comfort to know that the Lord does the work in us so we can imitate His humble character. Our part is to draw daily on His grace to die to self.

(Before I write insights on A. Murray's "Humility" chapter 3, I will share an exciting example of how the Lord works in the life of a young lady who desires her all from Him).

Humility in Daily Life

Insights from HUMILITY by Andrew Murray - Chapter six.

"The daily insignificances of daily life are the tests of eternity because they prove what spirit possesses us. It is in our most unguarded moments that we really show and see what we are... to know how a humble man behaves, you must follow him in the common course of daily life".

A. Murray reminds us that it is possible to have the delusion of being humble and loving when in reality we are not. Genuine humility is evident moment by moment through words, attitudes and behavior. Again, We can't produce the humility of Christ within us, it is the work of grace as we choose to respond to life, to difficult people and circumstances in total dependence, compassion, patience, kindness... expecting God to do His work of grace in others.

We need to cultivate the habit of seeing every difficult person or life situation as God's way to help us develop a humble and gracious heart to honor Him and to influence people through genuine love.

If I choose to make myself nothing before a person or situation because of what God is, what He does for me and what He can do through me, I am imitating the humility of Christ (He made Himself nothing... Philippians 2:7). I m also depending on His Spirit and letting God be God. The choice is always before me. Do I seek self-protection or God's protection? Do I seek my own way or do I let God have His way?

"The humility that is really mine is not that which I try to show before God in prayer, but that which I carry with me in my ordinary conduct"

I must beg the Lord to reveal and remove from my mind and heart all forms of pride so that dying to self becomes more than a biblical concept.

Paul teaches us that the grace of humility is at the root of true love - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...(1 Cor. 13:4-5)

The exercise of the grace of humility as we seek to improve or restore all relationships, especially marriage relationships has redeeming power. Only a humble believer has the power of the Holy Spirit to relate to others in love.

What spiritual habits show humility before God and produce redeeming power? I find the following habits essential -

• Meditating on God's Word daily (He has exalted His name and His Word above all else (Psalm 138:2).
• Offering myself (mind, heart, will, actions) to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2).
• Devoting myself to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Colossians 4:2).

What habits, attitudes, actions show humility before others and produce redeeming power? For my own sake I personalize the following attitudes and behaviors outlined in Colossians 3:12-17 (The Message, except v.16).

• To see myself as chosen by God for this new life of love (v.12).
• To clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline (v.12)
• To be even tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. To forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave me. And regardless what else I put on, to wear love. It is my basic, all purpose garment (v.13-14).
• To let the peace of Christ keep me in tune with others, in step with them. None of this going off and doing my own thing (v.15).
• To cultivate thankfulness (v.15).
• To let the Word of Christ dwell in me richly as I teach and admonish others with all wisdom...and gratitude in my heart to God (v.16).
• To let every detail in my life...be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way(v.17).

Let's build a solid relationship with the Lord and with others by imitating His Humility - God is working in us to will and to act for His good purposes (Phil.2:13).

Humility - my relationship with the Lord and with others

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus... he made himself nothing... Philippians 2:5,7

Some time ago I started memorizing one of my favorite books in the Bible, the book of Philippians. Chapter one was not difficult to work on, I have always treasured Paul's prayer for the Philippians in his first chapter. As I began to work on chapter two- Imitating Christ's Humility - I couldn't go on. Though I have read it before, now Paul's counsel "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" became very solemn and convicting. I sensed the need to understand more about the call to imitate the Lord's humility.

Through Andrew Murray's classic book HUMILITY the Lord has shown me principles that need to take root in my soul so that I sincerely admire and desire Christ's humility with all my heart. To cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the process of taking principles deep into my soul and become fruitful, I decided to write insights from each chapter of HUMILITY. His grace is sufficient to bring about something out of a desire for more of Him.

First, I like to quote Andrew Murray's thoughts regarding his own experience on humility -
"When I look back on my own experience or on the church of Christ in the world, I stand amazed at the thought of how seldom humility is sought after as the distinguishing feature of the discipleship of Jesus. In preaching and living, in the daily activities of home and social life, in the felowship with Christians... there is much proof that humility is not the cardinal virtue... the one indispensable condition of true fellowship with Jesus".

Now, from chapter one Humility: The glory of the Creature - God is worthy to receive glory, honor and power, for He created all things, and for His pleasure they are and were created (Revelation 4:10).

If I am created for God's pleasure, my attitude toward Him must be of constant praise, gratitude and dependence on Him so that His intention of demonstrating His love, wisdom, and power in and through me may be accomplished. Murray states "humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is, from the very nature of things, the first duty and the highest virtue of man. It is the root of every virtue... pride is the root of every sin and evil".

...Jesus made Himself nothing... and became obedient to death on the cross (Philippians 2:5,8).

The practical implication of taking to heart the Lord's attitude of nothingness and total obedience to God is that I too must learn to bring to Him my attitude of nothingness and submission so that all that I say and do reflect solid trust in His sovereingty and goodness. Only the practice of Christ's humility makes love, faith, joy, strength, power... real and possible. Only the grace of humility would make me able to impact the lives of those around me.

A. Murray states " It is possible to have known the Lord for a long time without realizing that meekness and lowlines of heart should be the distinguishing feature of the disciple, as it was of the Master."

Pride is toxic and very difficult to detect on our own. We can see why the Lord repeatedly and powerfully exposed pride in the disciples. He used countless opportunities to show them how a humble soul thinks and behaves. They didn't learn to imitate their Lord's humbleness easily, we don't do it either.

I thank the Holy Spirit for lovingly expose my need of humility, also for being the only One able to cast it out of my soul as I continuosly cooperate with Him. Humility is nothing I can produce, it is rather my constant attitude of nothingness before the Lord. It is living as a dearly loved creature before a mighty Creator and loving King.

The grace of humility must be " the object of special desire, prayer, faith and practice".

Next, insights from chapter six - Humility in Daily Life.

Do you need to be reminded more than instructed?

Many of us have heard, have read, have studied, have been taught the same lesson over and over again. I said it before and I say it again, I write to remind myself that knowledge, insight, revelation, must be followed by action. Christian living is about putting God's Word to work on daily life situations.

Oswald Chambers' My Utmost For His Highest has been my favorite devotional since I became a Christian, 25 years ago. Today, as I re-read the June 3rd reading, the Lord graciously reminded me that I should give Him more time to speak so He can share His joys and secrets with me. The Lord desires an intimate conversation with His children!

I like to share Chamber's thoughts with you. I pray we commit to leave Him more room to talk to us -

The Secret Of The Lord
"God-friendship is for God-worshipers, they are the ones he confides in"
Psalm 25:14 (The Message).

What is the sign of a friend? That he tells you secret sorrows? No, that he tells you secret joys. Many will confide to you their secret sorrows, but the last mark of intimacy is to confide secret joys.
Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys, or are we telling God our secrets so continually that we leave no room for Him to talk to us? At the beginning of our Christian life we are full of requests to God, then we find that God wants to get us into relationship with Himself, to get us in touch with His purposes. Are we so wedded to Jesus Christ's idea of prayer - "Thy will be done"- that we catch the secrets of God? The things that make God dear to us are not so much His gret big blessings as the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us, He knows every detail of our individual lives.

"...him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose." At first we want the consciousness of being guided by God, then as we go on we live so much in the consciousness of God that we do not need to ask what His will is, because the thought of choosing any other will never occur to us. If we are saved and sanctified God guides us by our ordinary choices, and if we are going to choose what He does not want, He will check, and we must heed. Whenever there is doubt, stop at once. Never reason it out and say - "I wonder why I shouldn't?" God instructs us in what we choose, that is, He guides our common sense, and we no longer hinder His Spirit by continually saying - "Now, Lord, what is Thy will?"

Help me Lord to live by what I already know!