Matthew 16:24-25

Matthew 16:24-25 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

When we are born into this world we are selfish and our ‘world’ revolves around us and what we want. When you are a baby you cry and get what you want. As a child you spend much of your time anticipating your birthday or Christmas and what you are going to get. If you have a need or a want in between you go to mom and dad and expect them to take care of it.

As you get older you begin to realize that there are other people too. Each of them also has wants and needs that are similar to yours. Now it becomes a struggle to come out on top. You begin to try to meet your needs and wants and sometimes that helps others, and sometimes it does not.

Then we meet Jesus and find that there is a better way. Jesus is the opposite of selfish; He is selfless. He gave up all He had to come to earth so that He could spend eternity with you and me. Even though He is a King, He came saying, “I did come to be served, but to serve.”

Now we give our lives to Him and He tells us we must give up our selfish ways. Deny yourself and take up your cross,” He says. That is how we follow Jesus.

We must give up our life to Him. Let it go and trust God. If you work to save your life, you will lose it, but if you give up your life for Him you will enter true life with Christ.