What kind of death appeals to you?
 

 I know, that's a strange question.  I raise it because I think most people fear death, probably even most Christians.  But I have heard, and even expressed myself, that some people would prefer to die in certain ways.  These preferred ways are usually characterized by an absence of pain, by how short the dying process is and by a pronounced delay in the onset of the process.  In other words, most of us want our deaths to be painless, short, but not soon at all.  What about the deaths that Jesus calls us to.  You remember, don't you?  He called us to die to our old selves daily, to reconfirm daily that process God began at our baptisms.  But that word "daily" causes us to stumble.  Like our physical death, we would like to think that the spiritual counterpart would be painless, short and not too soon.  However, for most followers of Jesus, dying for him involves daily dedication and obedience.  What's more, the spiritually untrained person will often allow opportunities to die !
for Jesus to pass by unnoticed.  Take a look at what Oswald Chambers wrote on this subject:
"If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for Him.  It is difficult, and thank God it is difficult.  Salvation is easy because it cost God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult.  God saves a [person] and endues him with the Holy Spirit, and then says in effect -- 'Now work it out, be loyal to Me, while the nature of things round about you would make you disloyal.'  'I have called you friends.'  Stand loyal to your Friend, and remember that His honor is at stake in your bodily life."

It is in the habit of dying to our old way of living, working, talking, loving, deciding etc. that Christ's life is manifested in us.  Do not excuse yourself from the crucial, but small opportunities -- they exist for God to glorify Jesus in us.  Remember, today is a good day for dying.  Grace and peace,

                              Ethan