Self-denial
There is today no element in nature we behold
That of itself has not a special lesson to be told
Of God Who is eternal is Creator and our Friend
Who planned before He made us that our life should have no end
There is no plant or flower below but makes His glory known
As every great and mighty plant comes from the seed that's sown
Though tiny in comparison and plain as it appears
Each cell within this tiny seed reveals a God that hears
The call for rain and sunshine that this little seed might be
All that by God it was designed in love for us to see
For beauty and for function in its purpose for mankind
When in our time of innocence He held our heart and mind
But one tree was not given for the freedom of our use
And out of all creation only this did God refuse
To let us have His blessing and from it to freely eat
For doing so would only lead at last to our defeat
And for a time our parents did not linger by that tree
As like so many others it was similar to see
And though its fruit looked tasty in this it was not unique
And there was not a special thing upon it they should seek
Except that its restriction pricked their curiosity
And after years of living near this once forbidden tree
The test of self-denial for the woman was too strong
And when she should have not been there she lingered there too long
And let the devil tempt her on this ground she had not known
Until he placed within her doubt that God had never sown
And doubt became rebellion that became the sin of death
And Adam fell because in truth he also failed the test
That caused the course of nature to be turned to death and pain
From which there could be no return to life with God again
Unless the One Who made us Who designed us as His own
Would leave His throne in glory to be cursed and die alone
The death that we should suffer separation from our King
Who still in fallen nature by His grace gives everything
To show how much He loved us and how much He loves us still
When we through self-denial grow to know His perfect will
Genesis 3:1-9; Matthew 16:24-27; Luke 9:23-26
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