“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
The best definition of this concept of dying to self I have ever seen follows. I have had this for many years and tried to live up to it. It has been so long that I cannot remember who the original author was, and my research on the internet has come up with nothing. I am sorry I cannot give proper credit to the man, but it is so powerful, I simply share it as “Author Unknown”.
“The man who has died to self has no ambitions, and has nothing to be jealous about. He has no reputation, and so nothing to fight about. He has no possessions, and therefore, nothing to worry about. He has no rights, so therefore he cannot suffer any wrongs. He is already dead, so no one can kill him.” (Unknown)
When you, as a believer, go unnoticed, overlooked, or made to feel less than important in any given situation or place, and you can remain at peace in your heart and satisfied simply to serve the LORD with gladness, that, my friend, is dying to self!
When, as a believer, you find yourself routinely criticized, even when what you do is right and good, and then your advice seems never good enough for others to accept and to try, or your opinions have little to no value in conversations, however, you will not allow anger to rule you, causing your to argue and defend yourself, but rather display the “fruit of the Spirit” upon your life, that is dying to self!
Beloved, we must discover the inner joy that the Apostle Paul attained:
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
