Only He Knows Us, ... and Better than we know ourselves

Oswald Chambers,   "My Utmost for His Highest"

December 12th.

PERSONALITY

"That they may be one, even as we are one." John 17:22

Personality is that peculiar, incalculable thing that is meant when we speak of ourselves as distinct from everyone else. Our personality is always too big for us to grasp. An island in the sea may be but the top of a great mountain. Personality is like an island, we know nothing about the great depths underneath, consequently we cannot estimate ourselves. (comment: All we see is the surface, like a quick glance in the mirror every now and then. We think we know our true personality, what we are like, how we react or don't react, but often times others seem to know us much better than we are even capable of knowing ourselves. Thus we need to listen intently to one another, and give heed and ear to the words of others. Listening is so important, it conveys so much about our inward spiritual condition and where we are at) We begin by thinking that we can, but we come to realize that there is only one Being Who understands us, and that is our Creator.
(comment: This does set us free, .. we are becoming more like Him and He knows the process necessary and the journey to get us out of ourself more and more, into a beautiful reflection of Himself)

Personality is the characteristic of the spiritual man as individuality is the characteristic of the natural man. Our Lord can never be defined in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of personality, "I and My Father are one." Personality merges,
(comment: As we identify with him and he creates in us His heart, and pours out His Spirit, His mind, His compassion, we take upon us the clothing of Christ, day upon day. I love how he says merges ... it talks of an ongoing process that is initiated by His Spirit in us, the focus is not on self, on what self needs to do to keep this process moving along, {as we are often taught by religious folks}, but on us becoming One with Him, merging is definitely the right word, it talks about him taking us and enfolding us up into His character, His nature, His very likeness, we are taking on His likeness) This is supernatural, a completely spiritual process

and you only reach your real identity when you are merged with another person.

(amen how beautiful is that statement! We are incomplete without Him, but complete in Him, lack nothing, made whole, restored)

When love, or the Spirit of God strikes a man, he is transformed, he no longer insists upon his separate individuality. Our Lord never spoke in terms of individuality, of a man's "elbows" or his isolated position, but in terms of personality - "that they may be one, even as We are one." If you give up your right to yourself to God, the real true nature of your personality answers to God straight away. Jesus Christ emancipates the personality, and the individuality is transfigured; the transfiguring element is love, personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the outpouring of one personality in fellowship with another personality.

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