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).
