I am moved by Calvin’s thoughts on the life of self-denial:
The great point, then, is, that we are consecrated and dedicated to God and, therefore, should not henceforth think, speak, design, or act without a view to his glory.1
Let this, then, be the first step: to abandon ourselves and devote the whole energy of our minds to the service of God.2
Hence follows the other principle: That we are not to seek our own but the Lord’s will and act with a view to promote his glory.3
For when Scripture enjoins us, in regard to our fellow men, to prefer them in honour to ourselves and sincerely labour to promote their advantages (Rom. 12:10; Phil. 2:3), he gives us commands which our mind is utterly incapable of obeying until its natural feelings are suppressed.4
Thus, each flattering himself sets up a kind of kingdom in his breast.5
But Scripture subjoins a most excellent reason when it tells us that we are not to look to what men in themselves deserve but to attend to the image of God, which exists in all, and to which we owe all honour and love.6 The Lord has given him a mark which ought to be familiar to you for which reason he forbids you to despise your own flesh (Gal. 6:10).7
The Lord points him out as one whom he has distinguished by the lustre of his own image (Isaiah 58:7).8
You see that to bear the cross patiently is not to have your feelings altogether blunted and to be absolutely insensible to pain according to the absurd description which the Stoics of old gave of their hero as one who, divested of humanity, was affected in the same way by adversity and prosperity, grief and joy; or rather, like a stone, was not affected by anything. And what did they gain by that sublime wisdom? They exhibited a shadow of patience, which never did, and never can, exist among men.9
But though he (Peter) obeyed the divine ordination with the greatest alacrity of heart, yet, as he had not divested himself of humanity, he was distracted by a double will. When he thought of the bloody death which he was to die, struck with horror, he would willingly have avoided it; on the other hand, when he considered that it was God who called him to it, his fear was vanquished and suppressed, and he met death cheerfully.10
…it is clear how necessary it is to temper the bitterness of the cross with spiritual joy.11
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