Your Daily Devotional for November 27, 2007

 

November 27,  2007

 

 

Dying to Self

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

 

Galatians 2:20

 

 

We are to worship God as the Creator and the Giver of all gifts. Everything we receive is a gift from Him, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."—James 1:17

 

Just as God gives gifts to His children, so we ought to give Him gifts as an expression of our thanks and worship. The most important gift you and I can give Him is our lives. We can die to self, ask for the Spirit's filling, and let Christ live through us! This sounds simple, right? After reading the poem below, ask yourself if you are sincerely living a life that is dying to self.

 

Dying to Self

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ

That is dying to self.

 

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient loving silence,

That is dying to self.

 

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, and interruption by the will of God,

That is dying to self.

 

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown,

That is dying to self.

 

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances,

That is dying to self.

 

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart,

That is dying to self.

—Bill Britton

 

It is time that we die to self. Will this be easy? Not really. Dying to our selfish nature is hard; it is a constant battle. This is why the Holy Spirit is present, filling us with His power, and giving us strength to deny our flesh. 

 

The best part about dying to self is the result: "…Not I, but Christ liveth in me."  Once we rid ourselves of our own ambitions, desires, dreams, and plans, Christ takes over and makes all things new. Through this process of dying to self Christ is glorified and supremely worshiped. As you conclude your quiet time with the Lord, are you willing to die to self today?

 

Daily Bible Reading

Ezekiel 30-32 • 1 Peter 4

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