Self Mastery

Christ has given us a very specific qualification for true Christlike discipleship.  He said in Matthew chapter 16 "... If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matt. 16:24).  The path to true discipleship is the path that he walked.  If we truly want to call ourselves disciples of Jesus Christ, then we must be willing to go through some of the trials that Christ went through as well.  Some of us may have to endure physical abuse for the name of Christ, while others may have to endure the abuse verbally.  Some may have to feel the loneliness of being cast out by peers, while others may have to suffer shame for his name.  Whatever trial comes your way, remember that Christ has suffered it all, and in order for us to come to truly know our savior, we must at least be willing to suffer these "crosses" of the world as well.  Now the cross that I would like to talk about today, is our own Natural Man.  Our own carnal desires to do what is wrong, even when we know it is wrong.  To deny ourselves, is to truly master ourselves.

Self Mastery is something that I have been learning a lot about recently.  To master ourselves is to be able to control ourselves, and whatever desires we have.  It says in 1st Corinthians " And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things..." (1 Cor. 9:25).  Temperance is defined by being moderate in all things.  For us to truly have self mastery, then we have to have moderation in all of our desires and our appetites.  This is also explained in the Book of Mormon when the prophet Alma is speaking to his son Shiblon.  He encourages him to "...bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love..." (Alma 38:12).  To have self mastery is not to eliminate all of our passions from our lives, but it is to bridle them or control them.  Some people love to play the piano, and some people love to draw.  These passions are great, and they are gifts given to us by our loving Father in Heaven, but we must have control over these passions that we have.  We can use these blessings to bless others, but when we don"t bridle our passions, and when they start to dominate our lives, then these passions can become harmful.  We need to remember that our God gives us talents and blessings, so that we can bless others, and so that we can bring greater happiness into other peoples lives.

Self Mastery is also more then just having moderation in our passions and appetites, but it is also "... to deny ourselves of all ungodliness and every worldly lust, and keep [Jesus's] commandments." (JST Matt. 16:24).  We must bridle all of our passions, but we must also cleanse ourselves from everything which is unclean or goes against God's commandments.  This is not an easy task, but it is possible.  Christ has said "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:26).  We can master ourselves, as we exercise our Faith in the Master of all.  He gives us the strength to resist all temptation.  He gives us the strength to overcome all adversity.  Through his grace we can become purified.  It is him and only him that can lift us above the world to dwell with our Loving Father in Heaven.  It is possible, and it is real.  I am not perfect, but I know that through Christ I can become perfected.  I know this is true.  Have a Fantastic Day!!!