Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Dying to Self

As I was growing up, I carried a copy of this "poem" in my Bible. I still remember reading it for the first time, feeling convicted as I read it, and then cutting it out of a church newsletter to keep. Well, turn the clock forward just a few years... 


The Spirit brought the reminder of this back to me last week while I was in Orlando, and––my childhood copy of the saying, worn as it had been, long gone now––I searched the internet to see if I could find it anywhere. And there it was…just as convicting and challenging as ever. I've got it stuck inside my Bible once again and am asking the Lord to continue to write it on my heart... 


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 opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take in 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, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility-and endure it as Jesus endured…
That is dying to self.
When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, any “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 commendations, 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 desperate circumstances…
That is dying to self.
When you can 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.
 ~Unknown Author

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