‹ Back

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." — Luke 9:23

We use the expression "that's my cross to bear" for almost anything difficult in life. But I honestly don't believe that's what Jesus meant.

When Jesus spoke about a cross, to Him and His disciples it meant death, suffering, humiliation and surrender.

So when Jesus said, "take up your cross," He wasn't talking about a difficult circumstance in your life. He was talking about taking up your cross when you follow Him.

So what does that mean?

We aren't facing crucifixion because we're Christians. But following Jesus has a cost. And that cost is your cross.

There is rejection. There is the continual battle with our old nature. There are times when obedience means denying what I want and choosing what He wants.

And then there is temptation. Think about what it does. It puts pressure on us.

Every time we're tempted to choose what we want instead of what Jesus wants, there is a weight added to our decision to follow Him.

And notice that Jesus says: "...take up his cross daily." Not once. Daily.

Sometimes that means enduring rejection. Sometimes it means denying our old nature. Sometimes it means resisting temptation. Sometimes it means surrendering something we desperately want.

And sometimes it simply means saying: "Jesus, today I choose Your way rather than mine."

So maybe the question isn't: "What is my cross?"

Maybe it's: "What does following Jesus cost me today?"

And then: "What is adding weight to my cross today?" Weight that I can hand to Him.

Because Jesus doesn't say: "Take up your cross when you feel strong."

He says: "Take up your cross daily... and follow Me."

Today.

And tomorrow, we'll do it again.

 

Mark deavall