ME ME ME or MINE MINE MINE
Posted on October 3, 2016 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters
“And [Jesus] was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Have you ever stopped to think about how much time we spend thinking about ourselves? Welcome to a new week of Freedom Fighters. I am glad that you are joining me on this journey of walking in victory.
Remember the scene in Finding Nemo when the seagulls converge and start screaming, “Mine, Mine, Mine?”
The concept of dying to self is not one that we hear much about in sermons today. We live in a culture that is bent on meeting our every need. We find ourselves getting in a snit if things don’t go our way. We are living in a day when all that matters is my needs, my desires, my rights. Just listen to the news and watch the commercials.
But Jesus said that if we are going to truly be Christ-followers, we need to learn how to die to self daily, and take up His cross.
This summer I picked up a little card from Pastor Harold Vaughn’s book table. It is called “Dying to Self.”
Listen to this …
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 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 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.
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.
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 or sister 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 circumstance, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you 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.
Are you “ALIVE IN CHRIST” and “DEAD TO SELF?” Or “ALIVE IN SELF” and “DEAD TO CHRIST?”
You need to understand that what I share with you is so often what I am preaching to myself. I really needed that today. What area of your life has God pin-pointed today where you need to DIE TO SELF?
Written by Dr. Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick: He has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years, and has three married kids, one that is engaged, and 10 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.
The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 122; Proverbs 3
Daily Quote: God will never come to his right unless we are totally reduced to nothing, so that it may be clearly seen that all that is laudable in us comes from elsewhere. John Calvin
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
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