The Joy of My Salvation

Our only place, the only place of blessing, our one abiding position before God, must be that of those whose highest joy it is to confess that they are sinners saved by grace.  (Murray, Andrew. Humility, Chapter 8)

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
  and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. (Psalm 51:11)

Yesterday I read something that will revolutionize how I confess my sins to God.  Confession, when properly performed, ends in adoration, praise, and worship.  "Never, never, even in glory, can [those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb] be other than ransomed sinners." (Murray)  This is not because such confession is the source of worship, but because it accompanies the source of worship: humility.  A humble person confesses, but not all confessions are made in humility.

Praise punctuates humble confession.  In the face of sin and failure, humility begs for the "joy of salvation" which comes with a "willing spirit to sustain."  Confession without humility brings excuses, dread, self-condemnation, and even denial.  Its a matter of focus.  "Being occupied with self, even amid the deepest self-abhorrence, can never free us from self. It is the revelation of God, not only by the law condemning sin but by His grace delivering from it, that will make us humble."  (Murray)  Humble confession looks to God and others for pity and rejoices at finding it.  When such pity is found, it provides strength for deliverance.  Without pity, such strength is not found, only the desire to hide.

Pity (mercy) opens the door.  Grace brings us in.  When I seek God's pity, his grace is welcome.  This is why the tax collector in Jesus parable (Luke 18) went home justified and the Pharisee did not.  The Pharisee was unable to receive God's grace because he would not go through the door of pity.  Grace (God's unearned favor) extends beyond pity.  I experience God's favor primarily as strength.  Grace is what provides ongoing salvation from my sins, while pity begins the process.  To stop with pity is to fall short of grace.  "'The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath now made me free from the law of sin, which once led me captive' [Romans 8:2] - is neither the annihilation nor the sanctification of the flesh, but a continuous victory given by the Spirit as He mortifies the deeds of the body."  (Murray)  That is why Luther (I believe) says, "There, but for the grace of God, go I" when he looks at sin.

So now as I come to confess, I find that I can enter and leave my "confessional" with hope.  I can enter through remembering how God has had mercy and how he continues to save me from many sins and trials.  Although I am a sinner, and need to admit my need for pity, my joy is in his salvation, which sustains me daily and gives me hope for whatever I may face.  It provides an essential pillar to my humility before God: the position of a ransomed slave.  I can leave with the hope of deepened humility and praise.

Such restored joy brings a willing spirit.  Willing to seek pity again.  Willing to praise the God who freely gives such pity.  Willing to seek his grace and strength to move forward in my redemption.  I believe I am redeemed from my slavery to sin, but need to grow in my understanding and life as a son of the Most High.  I have been invited into his home to live in his family and now I am eager to learn the ways of this heavenly household.  Only joy can bring this willingness.

Forgiving Father, your ways are mysterious especially when it comes to seeing your love for sinners.  You are patient and kind.  When I remember how your love has been extended to me, a sinner, I am overcome.  Pity me when I forget this love and treat you like a cruel taskmaster.  Remind me of your goodness to me each day.  Let me rejoice in you through your Spirit!  Amen.


Today I reviewed many sins from my past.  The pain was turned to gladness when I realized God's mercy and salvation.  I am eager to confess and turn from anything else that would keep me from that joy.  Curses on my pride!

Self-Denial as a Means to Humility

Today the Lord gave me a plan for self-denial.  I have been long aware of its necessity, but have not seen its beauty.  I have known it is right, but have not been so deeply aware of its goodness.

Except a man denies himself, he cannot be My disciple. Self is the whole evil of fallen nature; self-denial is our capacity of being saved; humility is our saviour ... Self is the root, the branches, the tree, of all the evil of our fallen state. All the evils of fallen angels and men have their birth in the pride of self. On the other hand, all the virtues of the heavenly life are the virtues of humility. (Andrew Murray, Humility)

 Self-denial leads to humility, the very heart of Jesus.

In this view it is of inconceivable importance that we should have right thoughts of what Christ is, of what really constitutes Him the Christ, and specially of what may be counted His chief characteristic, the root and essence of all His character as our Redeemer.There can be but one answer: it is His humility. What is the incarnation but His heavenly humility, His emptying Himself and becoming man? What is His life on earth but humility; His taking the form of a servant? And what is His atonement but humility? "He humbled himself and became obedient to death."(ibid)

With the humility of Jesus as the vision, self-denial becomes the intention.  The means of self-denial are like those of dealing with anger.  It is natural to be angry, but anger turns to sin when I harbor it and nurture it.  Similarly, desires are natural and necessary, but become sin when I harbor them and nurture them.

What I like and dislike harbors much of my thoughts and feelings.  Such desires should come and I need to let them go.  What is good should occupy my mind over what I want.  With the right vision and intention, the means to let go of my desires quickly could become habitual.

Lord, this gives me hope.  You are showing me the joy of self-denial already in how I perceive and accept other people.  Give me grace to grow into humility like Jesus'.  Amen.