The directions to Christ’s disciples
The Secret of the Cross written by Andrew Murray is a brief instruction to all people who want to be the disciples of Jesus Christ. The title of the book provides the reader its main idea. Jesus Christ said to His disciples to carry their cross. Christ’s words mean that everyone is sinful, but people may win an innate sin. Nevertheless, the Christians fail to win this innate sin even if they read the Bible, pray and go to the church. Andrew Murray provides the way to win a human sin, to crucify a sinful flesh for the sake of serving God in his book.
The main idea of Andrew Murray’s book
The Secret of the Cross starts and ends with a prayer. Every man of God should start everything with a prayer asking God for help and guidance, and thanking for this help at the end. The book consists of thirty-one parts or days that start with the quotation from the Bible and instructions how these words may be used in an everyday life. Christ’s disciples should read this book day by day during the month to find the deliverance from sins.
The structure of the book
Andrew Murray impels God’s servants to repent of their sins but, more than that, they should be taught to take power over their sinful flesh. They should not be captured with their sin. The author refers to the words of Jesus Christ who teaches His disciples that if they want to follow Him, they should lose their own life. These words should not be interpreted sensu stricto. Jesus Christ does not mean a real death of His disciples; He denotes the death of their sin. Andrew Murray explains Christ’s directions: “When their Lord had died on the cross, they would learn what it was to die to themselves and the world, and to live their life in the fullness of God” (Murray, 1998). People who want to win their sin should kill it in themselves; they should die for their salvation. Jesus Christ does not imply the act of suicide. The aim of Andrew Murray’s book is to provide to the reader the meaning of Christ’s words.
The author provides the so-called secret of the cross in his book. He explains how sinful people may get rid of their sin and dedicate themselves to serving God. At the beginning of the book, he points out that it is not a simple task to take control over a human sinful flesh. Only God may help people in this difficult struggle against a human sin. Andrew Murray provides pieces of advice how this aim may be achieved step by step or day by day. It is an everyday struggle and God’s servants should not give up.
The usefulness of The Secret of the Cross to God’s servants
Andrew Murray has chosen the most inspiring quotations from the Bible supporting people in their everyday struggle against their sin. Every chapter or every day is called according to the stage of the struggle. He provides biblical verses and his own commentaries. This book is very simple for understanding. The author does not use the most complicated words as far as the truth should be simple for understanding. More than that, the chapters are not long so that people may devote little time to its reading every day. Although the chapters are short, they contain a lot of food for thought. The Secret of the Cross is a good book for those who want to devote their life to serving God.
Reference
Murray, A. (1998). The Secret of the Cross. Web.