Take Up Your Cross

Take Up Your Cross.

This is something that took me a very long time to understand. Believe it or not when I heard people use the term Carry your cross I was scared. When I thought of the humiliation,shame and brutality that was inflicted on our saviour upon the cross, this was not a thought that was appealing to me.

My thoughts were along the lines of, why would people want to be persecuted? Why would we want suffering? Why would they want such burdens? and would that make me a better christian? I mean who would want that right?

Finally I got it! After years of battling with hurts and trials. Trying to be a good and loving person, putting others first and following God with my whole heart. I was still waging my way through storms. There would always be a breakthrough and the weathers would calm but before I knew it another battle would rage. Whether it was sickness, financial, other people using or hurting me, the pattern never seemed to cease. 

Then it hit me when a scripture came into the forefront of my thoughts

Luke 9:23. 

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

It continued to replay this scripture over and over like a record and I just had to study into it a little further. So in my own words this is what I got out of this study. 

When we take up the cross willing we are accepting that The situation whatever it may be calls us to be in the likeness of Jesus. He carried his own cross full well knowing what awaited him at the end of that trek. Was it death? No it was everlasting life. He carried that cross and gave Forgiveness and grace upon those who were undeserving. He went willingly knowing that his Father in heaven was behind him.

Eg. I'm sick, although the sickness is not welcome in my body I can turn from Jesus, be angry at him and ask him why would you allow this? or I could take up my cross, thank him for making me strong enough to endure, making me more dependant upon his promises in this tough time. Thank the doctor for bringing me a diagnosis and for the family that has my back.

Eg. Someone has said terrible,hurtful lies about you. You forgive them but they do it again and again. I could fight a losing battle, rely on my fleshly instincts and react in self defence, or I could take up my cross, walk away, forgive them and ooh here's the hardest part... ask God to bless them.

You see? That is what taking up the cross means to me. It's walking through what wars against us and instead of trying to handle any situation in the flesh and acting without thoughts to consequences or damage we ourselves can inflict. We need to think about the actions Jesus would have taken. That is obedience to the father. Through taking up the cross we allow Jesus to walk with us, to comfort us, to draw closer. When we reach the end of the Journey, Christ takes our Burdens from us restoring and gifting us with the new found strength we never knew we had. With new wisdom and Courage in preparation for when the next storm comes, where we can take it on and ultimately crush it.

What does Taking up the cross mean to you? 

God bless x