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What exactly did Jesus mean when he said "take up your cross and follow me.."? To answer this question we must know what the cross may have meant to Christ. Jesus was not ignorant of His mission on the earth. He knew that the reason he had come was to be lifted up to die that others might live. For Jesus the cross represented that moment when his submission to God's will would be manifested for all to see; it would take precedence even over his own desire to live. Jesus didn't want to die. Like us, he didn't want to give up his friendships, his mother, brothers, his disciples, and his life. But his love to God was greater than all of these things. In going to the cross Jesus demonstrated that his love and obedience to the Father took precedence even over his own life. And so he cried out in agony, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me! Yet, let not my will but yours be done” Luke 22:42. Also, consider these verses: • “If anyone wishes to become my follower, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me” Luke 9:23. • "Where your treasure is your heart will be also. ... No one is able to serve two masters; for he will either hate one and love the other, or he will despise one and hold to the other. You are not able to serve both God and worldly things." Matthew 6:21,24 • "Do not love the world neither the things which are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because all of the the things of the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, are not from the Father but are of the world." 1 John 2:15-16 1. A business man learns how he can make more money by cheating. He believes that chances are no one will find out. His actions will testify whether he has died to the things of this world in order to serve God. 2. A young woman is told that if she leaves the family’s traditional religion to become a Christian she will be shunned by the family and denied any inheritance. Her decision will show whether she ultimately loves God or her family. 3. A husband who feels neglected by his wife meets a beautiful and kind young secretary at work who enjoys his company. His decision whether to allow social encounters to take their inevitable course will proclaim whether he is living to please himself or God. 4. A mother who can not afford to buy new clothes meets her friends who have all recently purchased the latest styles. Her decision of whether she will go deeply into debt in an effort to have others think she is somebody based upon what she has will reveal much about where the treasure of her heart is. 5. A young man, who has a nice car and has been quite an achiever in athletic activities, goes to a new high school. Whether he decides to boast about what he has and what he has done will speak volumes about where the treasure of his heart is at.  (¯`•♥•´¯) ¤`•.♥.•´ ¤ (¯`•♥•´¯) |
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Sherri, good post and yes, like Pen said, very thought provoking. I see it as we don't realize that "truth" should stand strong in ALL our daily decisions, actions, and lives. Love you sister! May God Bless You in ABUNDANCE
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8/7/2008 6:10 am |
I think this was an excellent post, Sherri Jn:14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. --Jesus.
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Skariff2 - I can relate a real life application to your comment. Some years ago I worked for a Christian mortgage company. On Wednesdays the closer faithfully cooked dinner for the congregation at their local church which meant that she would leave at about 3:00 pm each Wednesday. It did not matter if a closing was occurring or that there might be issues that would need to be resolved in her absence. She would simply resolve them the next day. She was faithful in taking up one's cross. Some scoffed and learned to not schedule closings on Wednesdays as a means of avoiding issues typically surrounding mortgage closings. So you see two different degrees. One of avoidance and one of faithfulness. Looking back, I don't think many got it. Good to see you again, Sheri (¯`•♥•´¯) ¤`•.♥.•´ ¤ (¯`•♥•´¯)
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