....that is dying to self.

Luke 9:23 - "And He 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."

1Cor 15:31 - "I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily."
(NASB)

What does Jesus, or Paul even mean with words such as "deny oneself"? -or- "die daily"? I could never fully grasp those concepts, until I read these words:

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 impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to-face with waste, silly extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did....that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any clothing, any interrogation, any interruption by the will of God....that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to defend your own beliefs, your own good works, or itch for 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 can honestly rejoice with him in spirit, and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in more desperate circumstances....that is dying to self.

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, retaliation, self-sympathy, self-defense, self-vindication, self-justification, resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness in heart....that is dying to self!

(source)

Quite a tall order, yes, and one I fail miserably at on most all points. I think it describes well what it means to: "be holy for I am holy", (1Pe 1:16) to be Christlike, I understand this is something the regenerate will be striving for to the glorious end.

My deepest, most profound joy is realized in overcoming such things to His glory.


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