Deny Christ NOT

Matt 16:24-25. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

We know that our loving Savior sacrificed his own life so that we are able to have eternal life. I will forever be eternally grateful for that and the blessings that I receive from him sacrifice.  In a talk given by  Elder D. Todd Christofferson he said, "In giving His life, Christ saved not only His own life but our lives as well. He made it possible for us to exchange what would otherwise have been an ultimately futile mortal life for eternal life."  Elder Christofferson continues, "I wish we had more of the conversation between Jesus and His disciples. It would have been helpful to have some additional light about what it means, in practice, to lose one’s life for His sake and thereby find it. But as I pondered it, I realized that the Savior’s comments just before and after His declaration provide valuable guidance. Let’s consider three of these contextual comments." Elder Christofferson gives us 5 ways that we can lose ourselves and grow closer to Christ.

1. Take Up Your Cross Daily-   “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
2. Confess Christ before Others- A second accompanying statement suggests that finding our life by losing it for the Savior’s sake and the gospel’s sake entails a willingness to make our discipleship open and public.
3. The Cost of Discipleship- It is not a question of love. We can and must love one another as Jesus loves us. As He said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
4. Forsake the World- The third element of losing our lives for the Lord’s sake is found in His words: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
5. Lose Your Life in His Service-  the greatest illustration of saving one’s life by losing it is this: “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done” (Matthew 26:42). In giving His life, Christ saved not only His own life but our lives as well. He made it possible for us to exchange what would otherwise have been an ultimately futile mortal life for eternal life.