Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. If anyone serves Me, He must follow Me; and where I am, there will be My servant also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him." (John 12: 24, 26) ... In Thailand, a few weeks ago, it's tragic for me to see people bowing down to idols and spending buckets of money building massive temples for Buddha. There's much idolatry around and it's not hard to smell it... Of course, religious idolatry is one of Satan's greatest weapons to blind people's minds and hearts away from the true God. But there is another equally significant kind of idolatry that gets our focus off the Lord. We can call it "self-idolatry." It's sadder than seeing heathen bow down to their idols! It's a sight of Christians (even missionaries and pastors) who sacrificed much (give up worldly goods, homes, loved ones) but have never given themselves to God! Something to reflect on ... Jesus teaching us to die to self that we may live. A seed has to die before a plant grows.
Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. If anyone serves Me, He must follow Me; and where I am, there will be My servant also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him." (John 12: 24, 26) ... In Thailand, a few weeks ago, it's tragic for me to see people bowing down to idols and spending buckets of money building massive temples for Buddha. There's much idolatry around and it's not hard to smell it... Of course, religious idolatry is one of Satan's greatest weapons to blind people's minds and hearts away from the true God. But there is another equally significant kind of idolatry that gets our focus off the Lord. We can call it "self-idolatry." It's sadder than seeing heathen bow down to their idols! It's a sight of Christians (even missionaries and pastors) who sacrificed much (give up worldly goods, homes, loved ones) but have never given themselves to God! Something to reflect on ... Jesus teaching us to die to self that we may live. A seed has to die before a plant grows.
Comments
Dying to self is something that I have been struggling with for a long time.
You say that some missionaries give up everything and yet are not dying to themselves... so how do we die to ourselves?
This is a genuine question because I want to die to myself.
Thanks
Peter