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Subject to God’s Call, October 8
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23
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Genuine self-denial will be practiced by all who follow Christ. Judas
undertook to follow Christ, and at the same time to carry out his selfish,
covetous plans. He had the same privileges as had the other disciples. He
had the same privileges of hearing the lessons of Christ, which plainly
presented practical godliness; but he was not always pleased with the
plain truth. It cut him, and instead of taking up personal labor with Judas
Iscariot, he found fault with the words and works of Christ, and criticized
His plain teachings. Instead of being transformed in character, he was
cultivating self-love, self-esteem, and the love of money.
To live for self is to perish. Covetousness, the desire of benefit for
self’s sake, cuts the soul off from life. It is the spirit of Satan to get, to
draw to self. It is the spirit of Christ to give, to sacrifice self for the good
of others.
There can be no self-seeking in the life of him who follows the Saviour.
The true Christian banishes all selfishness from his heart. How can he live
for self as he thinks of Christ hanging on the cross, giving His life for the
life of the world? In your behalf Jesus died a death of shame. Are you
willing to consecrate yourself to His service? to hold yourself ready to be
or to do anything He may require? Are you willing to put self aside, and
speak a word of warning to the companion you see yielding to Satan’s
temptations? Are you willing to sacrifice some of your plans for the sake
of trying to lead him in safe paths? Many youth are in peril who might
be saved if Christians would manifest toward them a loving, unselfish
interest....
The true Christian works unselfishly and untiringly for the Master.
He does not seek ease or self-gratification, but holds all, even life itself,
subject to God’s call. And to him are spoken the words, “He that loseth
his life for my sake shall find it.”
Matthew 10:39
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