By Christian, have you ever taken account of all you have sacrificed on the altar of self? Those times where a little godliness was sacrificed to maintain the desired image of yourself, where a close relationship was sacrificed for the justification of self, or where obedience to God was sacrificed for the supposed rights of self. Do you have the perception to identify those moments? Can you see the love for self that is so common in our hearts and that so frequently overrides that which we know from Scripture to be true, right, and honourable?
Jesus calls all who will follow Him to deny self (Matthew 16:24). Although self-indulgence might make you feel as though you are finally living your best life, it is truly the death of your soul (1 Timothy 5:6). By contrast, the command to be self-controlled is for us all (Titus 2:2-6, 12). The world promotes building the altar of self and sacrificing anything on it; but that is not the way to happiness, and even less so, the way of a Christian.
Instead of using and manipulating others for self, the Christian considers others more significant than self (Philippians 2:3). Instead of polishing the reputation of self, the Christian cares about the ministry of grace to another (1 Corinthians 10:24, 33). Instead of maintaining the righteousness of self, the Christian seeks the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3).
Christian, what have you all sacrificed on the altar of self? Is it not time to sacrifice self for the benefit of others and for the glory of God?