DIE TO SELF. Sacrificial Death--some thoughts from Rod Peister September 18, 1998

When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and you sting and hurt with the insult of the oversight, but your heart is still 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 it all in patient loving silence - that, is dying to self..

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, or any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure is as Jesus endured it - that, is dying to self..

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any attitude, 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 commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown - that, is dying to self..

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 more desperate circumstances - that, is dying to self..

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

--------Author Unknown

Here are some further notes from my Q.T. notes:.

Rom 5.1 -- thinking a lot lately about marriage, and love. Listened to 4 talks by David Hocking lately on marriage that were outstanding, and talking with some couples about marriage problems. In Rom 5.8 It says that God "demonstrated" His love...by dying.

Interesting way to demonstrate love. Lingering on that thought, led me to realize we also can only really demonstrate our love by dying. In our case, it is dying to self, so that I can live for another. There is no way I can love, without dying to self interests, self preservation, & self approval. Love has other’s best interest at heart. It has to do with servanthood ; taking on the responsibility for the well-being and happiness and needs of someone else. That means I cannot continue to pursue my interests, my ambitions, my wishes, my time, & my money.

It is in submitting to another, and forgoing my "rights", that I am free to love with God's kind of love. Lord, help me to understand and practice this wonderful actuality. Love only comes from you . I am SO thankful for your love in me You are the only source of real love..

What is "the secret?" Have to die to self, to career; to what I am; to the ministry, to my self-esteem, or whatever. All these great examples did. Jesus did, And so must I.

"Unless a grain-of-wheat fall into the ground and DIE, it remains only single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." Jesus said that when predicting His death [John 12.24] Its a GREAT concept, needing to be pondered. That is not only true of all of us, but was also true of Jesus! His life is released through death and resurrection. And what if I don't? "It is then inevitable that you skin will become harder and harder, and your heart colder and colder, as you inevitably get older and older."