It’s Like Dying

To live for Jesus is why we have been redeemed and saved. But before we can live more fully for Him, we’ll need to die a bit more. Our readings are from the book, To Know Him. Here is a brief excerpt from pages 19 and 20:

To know Him thus is like to die, die to
all vain, misguided longings, to be through
with selfish aspirations, soaring dreams
of greatness, wealth, or fame, all foolish schemes
to make yourself the solar center of
your puny universe, absorbing love
from everyone, and giving love to none
but to yourself alone. Once you’ve begun       
to know Him truly, then the life you’ve known
before Him you will more and more disown,
and being dead to it, you find that you
are more and more alive to Him, a new
life, out of death, as He, in dying to
destroy both sin and death, accomplished true
life by His resurrection, and bestows
it freely on dead sinners, whom He owes
but wrath and judgment. So then, let us die
His death! For it is foolish to deny
the life He freely offers, and prefer
instead vain, baseless hopes. Can these confer
the joy you long for, or the lasting peace
your soul requires? Let us therefore increase
in dying daily to such vanities,
take up our cross and walk the path that frees
us from the ways of sin and death, and brings
us, as if borne on unseen angels’ wings,
into His life, His presence, and His joy.
There nothing can disturb, defeat, destroy,
or threaten our security, or take
us from that Fountain where we slake
all our desires, and find refreshment for
our thirsting souls, both now, and ever more.
We need not fear to die like this, or dread      
the loss of trifles it incurs. Instead,
we welcome daily immolation in
the fires of grace that purge us of all sin;
we fall upon the Spirit’s Sword, that it
may penetrate our very being, split
the bones and marrow of our soul, and fit
us for our daily tasks and trials. We quit
our old life happily, and gain in place
of it, true life in Him, life full of grace
and truth, and glory from the living God.       
No, once you’ve walked this path, once you have trod
the way of Jesus, you will not look back.
Your new course will define your daily tack
and each next step, and by His death, alive
at last, your soul will flourish, blossom, thrive,
and know unceasing joy and pleasure. Such
death all who know Him gladly suffer, much,
much more to live in Him.

For reflection or discussion
1. What does “daily dying” look like in your life? How can believers help one another in this discipline?

2. What do you do to make sure that, wherever your old self is dying, your new self in Jesus is growing in its place? 

Jesus has given us His Word so that we can know Him and be transformed into His likeness. It takes time, however, and daily progress in the Lord. Order a copy of To Know Him from The Ailbe Bookstore and study the notes and comments that accompany our readings. Share today’s podcast with a friend, then meet to talk about what it means to know Jesus.