Have you ever considered how often the Bible links living for Christ to dying to self? When you think about it, this is a very powerful picture of the great battle that Christians face. To live is to die. To make Christ first is to completely yield our lives. To love God supremely means that we relinquish all rights to our lives.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galatians 2:20
The objective of the believer is to live in such a way that Christ is put on display in every situation. That means that our goal is that Christ would be evident in our daily routines, in our marriages, in our jobs and friendships, in crisis, in our attitudes as well as actions, etc. There is no part of our life that is exempt.
Jesus made it clear that dying to self is not an option for a Christian. It is actually what defines a Christian.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Matthew 16:24–25
In fact, Jesus describes what it looks like to love Him supremely and to die to self.
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
Luke 14:26–27
Jesus is painting a very stark contrast. Our love for God must exceed our love for any other person, including ourselves, to such an extent that it appears to be the difference between love and hate. When we love anyone or anything the same or more than we love God, we have become idolaters.
The apostle Paul encourages the believer with these words:
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1–3
To die to self and live for Christ is a privilege. God’s grace makes this possible and should be the Christians greatest delight. We are learning to die to self and live for God in anticipation of the day that we will live with God for all eternity!
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