TO BE NOTHING AND HIM EVERYTHING

“…nothing is more natural and beautiful and blessed than to be nothing, that God may be all; or where it has not been made clear that it is not sin that humbles most, but grace, and that it is the soul, led through its sinfulness to be occupied with God in his wonderful glory as God, as Creator and Redeemer, that will truly take the lowest place before him.”
 
-Andrew Murray (Humility & Absolute Surrender)
 
I began reading this book as of last week and I must say that it has been one of much encouragement and a good reminder upon my heart and soul. Humility and absolute surrender are two things that we war against in our flesh on a daily basis. The battle to lay our lives down for the glory of the Kingdom and to fully surrender our hearts and trust the Lord completely is something very real.
I have come across many different understandings of what true humility is and I can honestly say that after reading this book, I have a much better understanding. Humility is an understanding within your heart and soul that without God, we are nothing and in our understanding, we become fully dependent upon Him, in everything that we are and do. The truth is that God doesn’t need us for anything. He is the God of the universe, over all creation. Before God was God and after God there will be God. He holds all power and might and in His gloriousness chose to create man in His likeness. The truth is, we are nothing, but with God become something that He cares for and loves deeply.
 
Humility makes us look weak, lowly and insignificant but the truth is that in Christ, our weakness is made strong and our lowliness is exalted in Him. We read in 2 Corinthians 12 versus 9-10, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
 
We read in Matthew 23:12, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” It is through humility and making oneself lowly, to lift up God and make Him high upon the throne, where He is, that God chooses to exalt us. It is here where we find ourselves seeking after His will and desire for our lives, in order that we might fulfill His great call upon it.
 
The one thing that will hinder us from fulfilling the God call upon our life and walking in true humility, is pride. Pride says that I can do all things on my own, without the Lord’s leading and choosing our own path within the church and the kingdom. Pride makes one to believe that God needs them instead of them needing God. Pride is boastful in the things the Lord has blessed them with, such as gifts and talents and abilities.
 
I hope to encourage any of you who read this to know that without God, we are truly nothing. We need Him more and more every single day, to lead us and guide us upon His path here on earth. We needed His Son Jesus to save us from the death of sin and we still need Him who created us from the very beginning. I encourage you as you pray and seek after Him to remember that He is the Creator and you are His creation. To be humble in all things, fully surrendering your life to Him, in all areas of your life. Don’t be afraid to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of pride in your life as well as areas that need to be surrendered to Him.
 
Blessings,
 
-Pastor Josh