The Death of Self

Have you ever noticed how the worst thing possible always happens to you?  How the most tragic circumstance is always the one happening to you?  Why is that?  How is that possible? 

It is amazing how all my life I have been a mediator.  It is woven in my DNA to try and reconcile both sides, to find a solution, to achieve balance.  I can see and have compassion for each persons view point.  I can remain unbiased.  That is unless I am involved.  Then suddenly all objectivity goes right out the window!

Ahhh...self...our best friend and worst enemy!  We fight tooth and nail to hang on and keep it supreme when what we really need is to kill it.  Or better yet, let it die with Christ.

In Romans, Paul makes it clear that when we are baptized into Christ we are baptized into his death (Romans 6:3).  And this in order that we might have a new life.  Not our old life made better, but a new life!  His life!  Therefore, our attitude should be one of humility just as Jesus' was; an attitude that put others first.  We can not live this reality unless we give up seeking to control and make our own way.  The only way to new life is surrender to death.  "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."  Luke 9:24

This seems a backward idea to us.  But maybe it is we who are standing backward and God is simply turning us back to the proper view.  And when we finally turn and look, what a glorious view it will be!  "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face." (1 Corinthians 13:12) 

"Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,

¹³ not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face

 so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome

of what was being brought to an end. ¹⁴ But their minds were hardened.

For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted,

because only through Christ is it taken away.

¹⁵ Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.

¹⁶ But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

 ¹⁸ And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,

are being transformed into the same image

from one degree of glory to another.

For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

 

And so I have hope, that as I reckon my self to dead in Christ, I will live to God.  I will continue to be transformed into His image and able to be humble and see the others side, even when I am involved.  Oh the hope of glory that Christ has bought with his death, burial and resurrection!  Hallelujah!  To God be the glory!