The true Jew is one who belongs to God in heart, a man whose circumcision is not just an outward physical affair but is a God-made sign upon the heart and soul, and results in a life lived not for the approval of man, but for the approval of God. (Romans 2:29 Phillips)
The Cross, as the instrument of spiritual
circumcision, has to be applied to this self-life deeper and ever more deeply,
because there seems to be no end to it. But that is the painful side, the dark
side. What is happening on the other side? Is it not that room is being made for
Christ? The real seed, the seed of Christ, is growing, becoming more and more
manifest. The opposite of the characteristics which we have been considering –
strength of intellect or emotion or will – is meekness. He said: “Take My yoke
upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29).
Pursue this right through, and you cannot fail to recognize that there was
something radically different in the very depths of His being.
I have said that we cannot calculate the whole
range of this self-principle, in its myriad forms of self-expression and
self-occupation and self-attention and self-pity and self-consciousness and
self-satisfaction. Even in our Christian life, in our devotion to the Lord, we
are so happy that other people see how devoted we are, and how humble we are!
And it is the self, the wretched – may I use the word? – the stinking self,
coming up all the time. For a true child of God is oblivious of himself, has
lost consciousness of himself in every way. If other people point out something
good about them, they had not realized it, they were not aware of it. They are
surprised that anyone could say anything good about them; they are not conscious
of that. And on the other side, should people be critical and point out
failings, well, they only say, “Yes, I know: I had that out with the Lord,” or
“I have got that before the Lord right now. I am not deceiving myself about
that.” This is the true child of Heaven.