SELF-DISCIPLINE IN SERVING CHRIST

(Adapted from "Bible Telephone Messages"
by E. Glen Barnhart, page 150)

Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, "If any one wishes to come after Me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

There is much in this teaching of the Savior that requires self-discipline on
our part. It is obvious in the term, "deny himself." The background to this,
and it opposite, is the common selfishness of sinful man. Sin, being
violation of Divine law, shows that man is more interested in his own self,
his own set of values, his own desires, and his own conclusion of mind and
feelings. The will of Almighty God is not important to him.

To be a follower of Jesus, one must learn to bring self under control, yes,
even deny self of those things contrary to Divine will. It begins with what
you believe. The mind must be open to the convincing truth of Divine
revelation, the Word of God. This is not superstition, mysticism, mythology.
The Word of God shows clear evidence of truth: historical truth, moral truth,
and spiritual truth, appealing to our minds and hearts. It is climaxed in the
evidences that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God" (John
20:30,31)

To be a follower of Jesus, one must yield in repentance to a life of
righteousness, turning in godly sorrow from a life-style of sin and
self-indulgence ..... Submission to Christ is fundamental in becoming a
Christian, and in serving Him throughout life. A hymn expresses this
self-discipline by this phrase, "All of Thee and none of self."


- We Rejoice with Laura Tenney and her family in her
  decision to obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Laura
  was baptized last Sunday.

"And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart,
thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:37)