Discipleship: Following in the Savior's Footsteps

With the passing of “black Friday” and “cyber Monday”, we’ve just finished a week of shopping frenzies. Around this time of year we all eye our wallets and spend a good deal of time thinking about, preparing for, and going out shopping. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are continually counseled to get out of and avoid debt as much as possible. Still, this is a time of year when many feel the pressure to ignore this counsel as they try to fulfill the wishes of those around them in the spirit of giving. As disciples of Jesus Christ, the Christmas season should be a time of joy, of thanksgiving, and a time to reflect on the most precious gift all of us have ever been given: the life of Jesus Christ.

It’s all too easy to get caught up in the wrong types of spending. The scriptures tell us not to concern ourselves with the costly things of the world. Rather we’re to focus on things that lift and expand our spirit in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 6:19-21
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Let’s first consider how to limit the wrong kind of spending, then focus our thoughts on what we can do to increase proper Christmas spending. Here are just a few thoughts for limiting spending on things that don’t matter so you have more of what matters to spend on things that will last for eternity.

? Give gifts from the heart rather than the pocketbook.

? The three wise men brought three types of gifts. Limit children to three gifts each: one for knowledge, one for the gospel and one for fun.

? Share before you ask. Start looking around for blessings you have experienced over the past year from people and places that have touched your life. What can you give back to them for the blessings they have given you.

Here are a few things it’s ok to overspend on this Christmas season:

Spend a little more time with a neighbor or friend.

Spend a little more on the little red bucket. Add a hot chocolate and a thank you for the person ringing the bell at that little red bucket.

Spend a little more time on your knees.

Spend a little more time singing.

Spend a little more time with your family.

Spend a little more kindness. A little more patience. A little more forgiveness.

A little more, Savior, like thee.

In Mark 15, we read the heart wrenching account of the Savior’s death. Verses 20-22 tell of the trip to Golgotha. After enduring more than any other man could ever withstand, He stumbled through the streets of Jerusalem under the weight of His own cross.

He was weak, He was tired, yet He bore it all with dignity and majesty until the Roman soldiers became impatient with His slow, stumbling progress. They pulled a man from the crowd and told him to carry the cross of Jesus. This was the custom of the times. The Romans could demand that a Jew carry their load. The scriptures do not tell us whether the man Simon offered any protest. We simply know he took up the cross and followed. If he was a disciple of Jesus Christ what must this have meant to him? On the one hand he was offering a humble service to his Lord, on the other it was a service that would end with His death. It must have been a difficult burden to bear. How would you have felt knowing that you were easing the Savior’s burden only to be a facilitator to his death in the end? It must have been very hard.

Today, our tasks as disciples of Jesus Christ are no less difficult. One of the first covenants we make with Heavenly Father comes at the time of our baptism. We bear witness that we desire to become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but more importantly we covenant that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. We renew this promise every week during the sacrament as we humbly pray we will be able to always remember Him.

We are being asked to carry His name, for good and for ill, just as Simon was once asked to carry His cross. Do we bear this honor with dignity? As we walk forward through the streets of our daily lives can those around us recognize whose name we carry with us? As Christ’s disciples do we focus our actions, our words, our thoughts, and our appearance in such a manner that those around us can see the goodness and beauty of Jesus Christ through us?

Carrying His name means we carry a deep commitment to become like Him. It means beginning each new day with His name on our lips as we pray for guidance on our daily path. It means expressing gracious kindness in the face of offense. It means helping a neighbor. It means taking time with a child. It means being his disciple even when it’s hard and the outcome seems dreary. In return He offers us peace and eternal life and an assurance that on the days when it seems we can’t carry on, He will be there to help us with the load. (Matthew 11:28-30) Even in the process of carrying His cross for Him, the Savior offers tremendous blessings.

I may not have carried His cross in Jerusalem, I may not wear a symbol of that cross around my neck, but I carry His name every day in my heart for everyone to see. I, like many of you, am willing to carry His name as far as He needs me to. He will bless and guide our efforts as we covenant to bear His name.