Do not think it is an easy thing to get rid of self. At a consecration
meeting, it is easy to make a vow, and to offer a prayer, and to perform an
act of surrender, but as solemn as the death of Christ was on Calvary--His
giving up of His unsinning self life to God,--just as solemn must it be
between us and our God--the giving up of self to death. The power of
the death of Christ must come to work in us every day. Oh, think what a
contrast between that self-willed Peter, and Jesus giving up His will to
God! What a contrast between that self-exaltation of Peter, and the deep
humility of the Lamb of God, meek and lowly in heart before God and man!
What a contrast between that self-confidence of Peter, and that deep
dependence of Jesus upon the Father, when He said: "I can do nothing of
myself." We are called upon to live the life of Christ, and Christ comes to
live His life in us; but one thing must first take place; we must learn to
hate this self, and to deny it. As Peter said, when he denied Christ, "I
have nothing to do with him," so we must say, "I have nothing to do with
self," that Christ Jesus may be all in all.
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