Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple. (Lk 14:27)
These are some of the words I hate more than any other.
Jesus was not kidding around when He said that we must carry our own cross and follow Him.
Crosses are so difficult.
They come in different shapes and sizes. They come in all sorts of varieties. They are handmade for each person.
Crosses can be very dramatic — easy for anyone to see — or very subtle.
Either way, the one carrying the cross knows the burden intimately.
The most hope given to us is that Jesus did not only speak these words, He lived these words. He, too, carried a cross. I would say He carried several of them. He carried the crosses of rejection and apathy. He carried the crosses of pain and agony. He carried the crosses of our sin and of death.
And He was victorious.
We, too, can be victorious if we keep our eyes on Him whilst we carry our crosses.
FAITH ACTION: Are you burdened with your cross? Ask the Lord to help you carry it. He will give you a hand.