September 6, 2009

Dying to Self

This poem has been taped inside my husband's Bible for as long as I can remember. I had a copy in my Bible too, but over time it came unglued and it is no longer there. These were copies of a copy...does anyone know who it is attributed to? Please let me know so I can give credit to the author.

Can any of us really live like this? The answer is NO, not in our own strength...may the Lord give us each the enabling to respond in every circumstance with true thankfulness and joy!


DYING TO SELF

When you are forgotten or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you do not 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 it all in patient, loving silence,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, and unpunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus endured it,
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 are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God,
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.

Are you dead yet? In these last days the Spirit would bring us to the Cross. "That I may know Him...being made conformable to His death." Philippians 3:10

Christ, only Christ, no needless bustling sound,
Christ, only Christ, no self important bearing,
Christ, only Christ, no trace of "I" be found.

Author Unknown

3 comments:

You Can Call Me Jane said...

Wow. This cuts right to the heart of it all, doesn't it? Thanks for sharing.

Camille said...

So true...first time I read it I was so rebuked! And the second, and the third...you get the point I'm sure! Good "food for thought" hey? :)

Camille said...

I am told that the author wished to remain anonymous...that would make sense, wouldn't it? :)