".... let him deny himself." Luke 9:23
There is a great difference between "denying self" and "self-denial." We usually think of self-denial as abstaining from certain things we would like to have or do. Many people try to reduce in weight by self-denial. A certain ladies' society in a modernistic church formed a "self-denial missionary club." One day each month they would practice "self-denial day" and would refrain from cocktails and dancing and the theater, and playing bridge for money, and then they would give the money so saved for the support of missionaries to the poor benighted heathen. They practiced self-denial but knew nothing about denying self! To deny self is to forget self entirely and think only of others and their welfare, no matter what the cost to self may be.
A certain man visiting a lighthouse said to the keeper, "Are you not afraid here? It is a dreadful place to remain in constantly." "No," replied the man, "I am not afraid. We never think of ourselves here." "Never think of yourself! How is that?" The reply was a good one. "We know that we are perfectly safe, and only think of having our lamps burning brightly, and keeping the reflectors clear, so that those in danger may be saved." That is what Christians ought to do. They are safe in a house built on the Rock which cannot be moved by the wildest storm, and in a spirit of holy unselfishness they should let their light gleam across the dark waves of sin, that they who are in peril may be led into the harbor of eternal safety. Those who forget themselves in living for others, live for God.
If the letters which make up the word "self" are reversed and the letter "h" is added, the "flesh" is revealed. Self is always the flesh in some form.
"Bread For Each Day"
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