John 12:12-50 | What's the lesson for me today?

I often find that the most difficult battle I have is when it comes to truly laying myself down. I may be really good at sacrificing a lot and sometimes really good at not ever expecting anything in return. Other times and can start a cycle of self-pity because things are not reciprocated the way I would like. It is when the self seeking comes in that stuff becomes dangerous. Let me share some passages of Scripture with you and I want us to meditate on these.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
-Revelation 12:11

14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
-James 3:14-16

Do you see the danger here? Part of how they overcame with evil one in Revelation was by not loving their own lives to the death. And when we are self-seeking, it provides that confusion and every evil thing be present. I think we way under estimate the severity of selfishness in our world and in our very own lives. I do not want the line written about my life to be like the rulers who loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. I want to be one who would glory in losing the praise of men that I would gain the praise of God. So I see two things that must be fostered in my life:

1. A fear of God over a fear of man
2. A love of God over a love of self

What lesson are you taking for yourself?