Amazingly my ponderings and private times this morning had a common theme: Dying out to self. Holy Scripture refers to this experience as something very healthy and useful for the greater good of the Kingdom of God. It refers to this experience as a crucifixion of ‘self-sovereignty’ and for those us a little confused by that, it basically means: it is a funeral for the tricky three: me, myself and I.
In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The new life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Later on in this epistle he makes this observation: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).
I was raised in the church and know how it works. I have attempted to craft the skill of preaching and church administration. I have learned the “jargon” and know all the “tricks”. But in reality I have also been humbled and embarrassed by the motives &/or actions instigated by self-sovereignty. While I believe ‘self’ has been crucified, it sure seems to rear it’s ugly head periodically making one realize that while that moment of surrender was real there are yet many moments of continued surrender that follow.
One of the beauties of God’s working with us is that he deals with us in the context of “community”. He gives you what I need, and he gives me what you need. We must recognize that the giver of the gifts is the Holy Spirit (nothing I have done nor mustered up on my own). Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:7: Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. That means there is a communal nature to the gifts and graces we each possess. They are very dangerous if self has not been crucified and we view those gifts as ‘our own’. We must recognize that if self is truly off the seat of our heart’s throne then it is the Holy Spirit controlling those gifts and graces in us – which is the original design since He is the giver! If the spiritual gifts we possess are not under the control of the Holy Spirit our life will not be as fruitful and fulfilling as God designed it should be!
When I have totally yielded myself to God, then whatever gifts I possess can be mightily used by Him to help the ‘community of faith’ and in that disposition the gifts I possess become instruments used for God’s glory. I will also find that I am enjoying more joy and fulfillment in that posture and being used in a much more powerful and meaningful way. As E. Stanley Jones once mused: Yourself on your hands is a problem and a pain. Yourself in God’s hands is a possibility and a potential.
Today, pay attention to your motives. Enjoy the relationship you have with God, yet if you discern some self-seeking motivations or some self-glorifying motivations – recognize there is greater joy and greater strength in total surrender and yield yourself anew to our loving Lord. Allow the grave of the tricky three - to remain undisturbed and in the past for there is much greater joy in a life where God is completely enthroned on the heart!
See you in His house,
Pastor Lynn
