Carrying Our Cross

Christians today are under attack, even though we don´t see it. Somehow, the ways of the world are finding their way back into our thinking. It happened so subtly that we didn´t even realize it. But, even while talking up the Lord, our hearts go out to the things of the earth. We lift God up, but we lift ourselves even higher. The truth comes out in our words, prayers, and songs. We talk about us, me, and I: “I think, I believe, I, I, I… But we were called to something different.

We could turn and choose to follow Christ. We would have to stop following what the rest of the world does. It would mean shouldering a heavy burden for the Lord. That burden is our cross. It is what ties us to Him. We take it up willingly. Pray that we will see the emergency. Pray that we realize that to love Christ means putting Him before ourselves and our ways.

Dear Lord, give us a burden. Make us people who will step out of the crowd. Let us step in close behind our Savior and begin living for You and not for ourselves. Turn everything around until we are willing to sacrifice it all, only to draw a step closer to You, our God. Amen

Luke 9:23 ESV / And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

John 16:1-33 ESV / “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ …

Luke 14:27 ESV / Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.