November 29
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeNineteenth Friday after Trinity
Christ glorified not Himself. Hebrews 5:5.
WHAT is the lesson of life which is taught by the vision of the Crucified? There is one lesson that embraces all lessons. It is not patience, though that stands out prominently; it is not humility, though that is the pervading tone of all the mystery; it is not energy of will, though that lies beneath all the self-sacrifice; nor is it love, though that is the power that moves all its hidden springs. There is a yet deeper lesson to be learned, which, if truly learned, causes all other lessons to be comparatively easy. It is deadness to self. This is greater than deadness to the world, for the world acts on us only through self. The world is to every man only what self causes it to be. The world is overcome as self is overcome. But when the world is left, self may remain. The lesson which the Cross teaches of deadness to self, will affect with the keenest touch some one special portion of our complex self. The self in every man is that leading infirmity, that besetting natural irregularity, or evil tendency, which has been the fruitful source of the sins of a life. This is the self which we have to dread.
Keep us, Lord; O Lord, uphold us, From the tempter safely fold us.
We are weak, on Thee we call; Christ, support us, or we fall.
Father! dangers round us throng; We are feeble, Thou art strong.
Over rock, and hill, and sea, Guide us home to heaven and Thee.