Matthew 16: Disciple Qualification, Cross-Carrying
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Matthew 16:24-25 (NKJV)
The Cross of Jesus Christ pulls at my heart. It humbles me like nothing else on Earth.
It nails me in a state of contrition.
It lifts me above every lesser thing.
It pierces every manmade delusion.
It stretches me in ways I need to go.
It lowers my head in fervent prayer. It takes me closer to God than I've been.
It refuses my twistings and turnings.
It keeps me on the straight and narrow path.
It silences my frivolous complaints.
It separates me from faith pretenders.
It exposes me to Satan's cronies, but It protects me from every assault.
It ushers me into isolation,
Where God Himself tenderly revives me.
It prepares me to walk in victory,
As a conqueror, and not a victim!
The more I hang my heart and mind on It... the more I grow as a saint and soldier! I need to hang on The Cross more often, but I can oh-so-easily ignore It... until hard times arrest me, restrain me, and force me into helpless surrender.
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
If we consider The Cross every day, then pick up ours and take it going forth, we’ll be strengthened beyond cross-pretenders…
Those who prefer to hang crosses from their necks, rather than carrying them on their backs. But Jesus doesn’t fit in our trinkets, no matter what Christian jewelers say.
What does “carrying our cross” really mean? Deeply committed pastors and scholars have written their insights on this order.* The way I see it?
Our crosses mean our duty unto death: our commission as Christ’s ambassadors. Everything else we may do in our lives must take place… in the shadow of His Cross.
Matthew 16: Disciple Qualification, Cross-Carrying (Part 22)
* 'And take up his cross; willingly and cheerfully bear those trials and afflictions which the providence of God brings him under for owning and standing to his profession, all which come under the name of the cross, with respect to Christ's cross, on which he suffered... (Matthew Poole's Commentary, as well as many more...)
* Short article: What did Jesus mean when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me”? | GotQuestions.org
* Short article: What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus? - Compelling Truth
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God– to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.
WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!