Subduing the World by Conquering Ourselves Print
Written by Victoria Radin   

Rosh HaShanah 5774

Happy New Year (L'Shanah Tova)

     On Rosh HaShanah, the Civil New Year, we are admonished to spend time in introspection, reflecting on how we affect the world in our personal sphere of influence and how we can improve ourselves, thus improving the world. It’s a time to make resolutions to develop new habits that will enhance our lives for the benefit of our fellow man. This requires conquering ourselves, our bad habits such as selfishness, greed and pride. As believers in Yeshua, the Word of G-d tells us that we are to die to our own lives so that Yeshua can live in us. When this is accomplished we will have subdued the world.

     An unknown author wrote the following synopsis of what the Bible says about our service to others as Believers and is worth spending time reading frequently, but especially as we celebrate the New Year.

When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught

And you don’t sting and hurt with the insult

But your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, 

That is dying to self!


When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed,

Your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed

And you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, even defend yourself,

But take it all in patient, loving silence, 

That is dying to self!


When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder and irregularity or annoyance;

When you stand face-to-face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility

And endure it as Jesus endured,

That is dying to self!


When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society,

Any raiment, any interruption by the will of G-d,

That is dying to self!


When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation

Or to record your own good words or itch after commendations,

When you can truly love to be unknown,

That is dying to self!


When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met

And can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy or question G-d

While your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances, 

That is dying to self!


When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself

And can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly,

Finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, 

That is dying to self!

 

Are you dead yet?

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of G-d, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Bezrat HaShem (With the help of G-d)