The Christian's Duty of Dying Daily
J. Hill. 1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our LORD, I die daily. I. SHOW YOU WHAT THE DUTY IS. To die once is a lot appointed for all; to die daily is a duty practised, a blessing obtained by few; most live as if they were never to die; because the day is evil, they put it far from them. 1. To die daily is to set death always before us as a change which "will one day certainly come." 2. It is to be ready to meet death, as a change which may suddenly come. 3. To die daily is to wait for our change, as what we desire, were it God's will, should come speedily (Philippians 1:23). 4. To die daily is to resign our souls solemnly into our Redeemer's hands, as those who know not whether they have another day to live. To leave them with His faithfulness, love and care, who hath said, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." II. WHY ARE WE TO BE FOUND IN THE CONSTANT PRACTICE OF IT? 1. This redounds greatly to the glory of God. He is honoured by a lively frame and an upright walk. For the sons of God, and of glory, to live wholly strangers to death, or to be afraid of it; how does this sully their character and shame their profession! 2. It makes much for the establishment and consolation of other Christians. It greatly saddens the hearts of younger Christians to hear those that are going off the stage of life mourning and complaining, as if they were wholly in suspense as to their eternal state. Sure, were you to converse more with God, you would speak more for Him. What though your hopes for the present fail, the God of your hopes lives. 3. This is a frame which is highly beneficial to our souls. III. HOW DOES THE REGULAR PRACTICE OF THIS DUTY REDOUND TO THE COMFORT OF OUR OWN SOULS WHEN DEATH REALLY COMES? 1. They that die daily die comfortably, because by this means we make death familiar to us, and those we are well acquainted with we are but little afraid of. 2. Dying daily has a farther influence upon our comforts, because hereby we are "weaned from the world," and all worldly enjoyments, and those things which we are weary of we are glad to leave behind us. 3. By dying daily our "accounts are clearly stated" between God and us; and what condemnation have we then to fear? 4. By dying daily we learn to look beyond death while we are looking at it; and all is peace and joy there for ever and ever.I shall now close all with a few remarks. 1. How dreadful is it for them to think of dying who have not as yet begun to live. 2. The truest wisdom is to be prepared against the greatest danger; our everlasting all depends upon our dying well. 3. Unless we know Christ savingly we can neither die daily nor die comfortably. He is the Lord our righteousness, and our strength. 4. It is dangerous living, even for the Christian himself, without keeping his dying time ever in view; for a view of death is the greatest bridle upon indwelling sin, next to an immediate grant of mortifying grace from above. 5. Should we not make haste with our living work when we know not how soon our living time may cease? 6. Learn hence the excellency and sweetness of the Christian's life. Interest in Christ makes life pleasant and death joyful. (J. Hill.) Parallel Verses KJV: I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. WEB: I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.