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"Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple.” - Luke 14:27

What is your cross that you must bare as one of Jesus’ disciples?

Our cross as followers of Jesus Christ in the world today, encompasses many things - the known and of course the unknown, that we never can anticipate; the unexpected changes in life that are difficult to handle in a Christ-like way; the result of the principle of time and chance; and the pressures that living in this world lay upon us.

Our cross includes all the uncertainties of living in today’s world. The only way to obey Jesus’ condition for discipleship is to always expect the unexpected with resolve, and faith in Him. Our cross may be anything and everything in our lives that we encounter that is in line with God’s will for us, that is, or becomes, a burden that we must bare.

There are crisis crosses; there are heavy crosses that seem to go on and on without relief. There are crosses of everyday endurance of living. If we are Christians, we are bearing a cross simply by striving to live a Godly life in our world. There is the cross of persecution. There is the cross of illness, and of course the ultimate in this, the cross of death that all must carry whether believers in Christ or not. Whether it is heavy, or comparatively light, it is designed by God for each of us.

There is a way many avoid having to carry their cross. Simply abandon their lives, toss the burden of living for Jesus Christ to the wind, and begin living as they please. Even then, there is usually a price (cross) to be carried, a price to be paid simply by living as we please in the world.

We do not carry our cross in vain. When we bare our cross until the end, there is a reward and eternal life afterward. No cross bearing, no following of Him as He instructed - no reward. But we must bear some type of cross until the end.

But the good news is, Jesus will help us bare it! If we are genuinely submitted to, and serving close to Him He will enable us to carry it:

"For My yoke is wholesome (useful, [a]good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne." - Matthew 11:30

He promises that our cross will never be more than we are able to bare, and compared with the consequences of living like the world, it is "easy". No one enjoys picking up a rough, heavy load like a cross. Our cross will never be like the one Jesus carried. The cross that every child of God carries is weighted, designed, and designed just for that person.

However, all things known and unknown, possibilities and eventualities considered, it is best to take up our cross - and follow Him. Then we can affirm the results just as the Apostle Paul did when he spoke some of his last words that we have record of:

“I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith. [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).” - 2 timothy 4:7-8

It will be worth it all...

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Washed by the Water of the Word