A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day – August 15, 2019
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. (Luke 9:24)
Now, I realize nobody wants to talk about dying but, bear with me for just a little bit. One of the key principles of living in the anointing and blessings of God includes dying to self. If we really want to live a Godly life, we must learn to die to ourselves. It’s part of the DNA of such critical spiritual matters as giving of yourself and your substances, having compassion for others, and not thinking more highly of yourselves than you ought.
Our carnal nature is basically selfish, arrogant, and prideful. We always want to promote ourselves. Our spiritual nature (once we are born-again) should change from self-promotion to promoting Jesus. I heard a song recently entitled “Nobody” by Casting Crowns that went like this, “I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, all about somebody, who saved my soul.” (Click below to hear this great song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOooelyA9Ws
Now, I know who I am in Jesus! I know the power and authority that He has given me. I know that I am an overcomer. I know that I have been given the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. I know that I am somebody in Him. I will never back off or back down from that. But, I also know that without Him, I can do nothing.
I heard a story years ago about the famous boxer Joe Louis. He was standing in a long line of people waiting to get into this famous restaurant. As he patiently waited, another man and his friends rushed to the front of the line and demanded to be seated ahead of everyone else. This man told the doorkeeper that he obviously did not know who he was because he was very important and famous. In the midst of this confrontation the doorkeeper noticed Joe Louis and his guests standing in line. The doorkeeper immediately recognized Joe Louis, pulled him out of the line, and escorted him to a table. Joe Louis later made this quote about this situation. “If you have to tell people you are, you ain’t.”
We all have to fight this thing called the flesh. I was recently disappointed about how a personal situation turned out. We had another seasoned minister staying with us at the time. As we discussed the situation, she said something that was so true. She said, “It’s a good day to die.” Now, she was talking about dying to my own pride and ego.
As I thought more and more about her statement, I believe it’s a lot deeper than just the present circumstances in this life. If you are a born-again believer, then every day is a good day to die (literally and figuratively). To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. That is true when we die literally, but it is also true when we die to ourselves. When we die to ourselves, that action invites the presence of the Lord and His presence is worth it all.
I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest. (John 12:24, Amplified Bible)
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Galatians 5:24)
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:12-13)
