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The Way of Baptism, Part 9
more
about dying to self
by Lisa Panasuk and Andrew & Matthew
Hohnberger with YD
Staff
Part 1
| 2 | 3 | 4
| 5 | 6 | 7
| 8 | 9 | 10
| 11
In part 8, we learned that dying to self does not mean simply doing good things that we naturally enjoy doing. Instead, it means trusting that God knows best even when we think we know best. We also saw that because God loves us, He always chooses the best possible way for us. Not only that: When we follow Him, He rewards us with peace, hope, and joy.
Why is it so hard to die to self?
Too often, we’re still arguing with ourselves about whether or not God knows best. When we do this, we’re going to have trouble. “The reason why many find the Christian life so deplorably hard, why they are so fickle, so variable, is that they try to attach themselves to Christ without first detaching themselves from these cherished idols” (Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, page 31).
Detaching ourselves from our idols—the things we prefer more than God—means deciding that we don’t want them any more. Instead, we too often sit around thinking, I really want to do that, but it’s wrong, so I won’t do it. . . . But I really want to! It would be so nice. So fun. . . . And you know what happens next: more often than not, we soon find ourselves actually doing it.
God promises that our lives will be much easier and happier if we simply make the choice: I don’t want to do this. God knows best, and that’s enough for me. I want nothing to do with it any more.
Are you willing to change your mind about what you want? Are you willing to desire what God says is best, and let go of what you think you need? If not, you’re going to be fighting with yourself all the time. And that’s a really hopeless battle!
What’s your real motivation?
Paul gave up everything to follow the Lord. In Philippians chapter 3, he talks about it: “What things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things” (Philippians 3:7, 8 R.V.).
Notice what His motivation was: It wasn’t the thought of heavenly mansions. It wasn’t tame tigers and luscious fruit. It wasn’t even the thought of living forever. His goal was to gain Christ. And notice what it cost him: “all things”!
Have you counted the cost?
Many of us like to shop. When you find the perfect jacket or shirt, or just the right pair of sunglasses, it’s time to count the cost. I’ve never seen anyone cry because they had to give up their money in order to have the thing they wanted!
But how many of us want to cry when we have to give something in order to gain Christ? Paul gave everything he had in order to gain Christ, and was he unhappy? No. In fact he said it was all trash in comparison! “[I] do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8, R.V.).
If we really think about it, we came into the world with nothing, and we’ll leave with nothing but our characters. So why not give God everything? Is it worth it to gain Christ?
I say YES!
Part 1 | 2
| 3 | 4 | 5
| 6 | 7 | 8
| 9 | 10 | 11
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