Dying to Self

Posted on April 29, 2019 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23

I wonder what kind of response Jesus would get today if he shared these words with those of us who call ourselves his followers?

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Denying self or dying to self seems to run counterculture to where we are in our world today.

We hear about:

My rights
My needs
My feelings
My desires
My plans
My goals
My, My, My.

Denying or dying to self doesn’t quite seem to be politically correct. But isn’t that what Jesus was asking us to do? It almost seems easier to take up “his cross” vs. denying or dying to self.

Preacher Harold Vaughn from Christlifeministries.org shares six examples of dying to self:

1. When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ – that is dying to self.
2. When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions 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.
3. When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any lack of punctuality or any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility – and endure it as Jesus endured it – that is dying to self.
4. 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 unknown – that is dying to self.
5. When you see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can 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.
6. When you receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart – that is dying to self.

Wow, Harold really hit me between the eyes. Denying or dying to self isn’t easy – but it sure worth it. And if I love Jesus and want to walk the way He did – it’s also called obedience.

Which one of the six do you need to work on this week? Think about it.

Relentlessly pursuing Christ,

Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 5-6, Revelation 16| You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “God loves you intensely, wants to hear your wounds and beckons you to safety in the shadow if His hand.” — Judith Couchman

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. – 2 Corinthians 5:20-21