God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.' Jesus assures His followers that their obedience and love for Him will result in an intimate relationship with the Father and His abiding presence.
As God then sees all hearts, and knows every movement of pride, whether we see it or not, His purpose is to humble us! When I look back upon my life, and see all my sins, all my follies, all my slips, all my falls, my conscience testifies of the many things I have thought, said, and done, which grieve my soul, make me hang my head before God, put my mouth in the dust, and confess my sins unto Him. When I contrast my own exceeding sinfulness with God's greatness, God's majesty, God's holiness, and God's purity... I fall down, humbly and meekly before Him, I put my mouth in the dust, I acknowledge I am vile. “I am nothing but dust and ashes.” (Abraham) “Behold, I am vile!” (Job) “Woe to me! I am ruined!” (Isaiah) “I am a sinful man!” (Peter)
