Encouragement
Jesus said take up your cross.
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.
And when I think of this daunting challenge I immediately think of how many times I have and will fail in my task. I think of how sin is going to get to me and ultimately I could abandon my cross for mortal pleasures and worldly goals. I think, how will I ever bare this cross, my cross, how will I ever deny myself and just follow Jesus? I think this, realizing that this is our duty to take up my cross and follow Jesus.
Jesus also said:
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
This is also a quote that hit hard at home. It makes you think, "Am I really a disciple of Jesus? Am I really doing what I'm suppose to do?" Then I remember all the times I failed and turned back to sin. I think of all the times lust and my flesh won over my bible reading time and kept me from attending church. I thought, I will never be able to carry my cross the distance. I will fail and I will not be able to bare the cross. It is so easy to give up before ever getting started. Well, my friend, I want you to read this next quote. It changed my out look on the cross we all have to bear.
Luke 23:26 And as they led him (Jesus) away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the (Jesus') cross, that he might bear it after (for) Jesus.
When I read this I thought, "Jesus couldn't carry His cross and in fact it had to be carried by Simon. Then I pictured another man, who wasn't of that country carrying Jesus cross to Calvery Hill.
Now we know that Jesus could have carried that cross. We know that Jesus could have brought down legions of angels to carry that cross for Him, but instead He let a man carry His cross. A regular man, who was a stranger in that country, took up His cross and carried it to Calvary.
Now, what does this make you think? I'll tell you where it puts me. I think Jesus was showing us that in fact we can not carry our burdens ourself and that we can not carry them all unto death. There will be a time when someone else carries our cross for us. Who, you might ask, will carry my cross? Well, Jesus, the Holy Spirit maybe. No matter who it is, I don't think we have to worry about being overwhelmed. Because Jesus showed us that when you can't carry the burden, it will be carried for you.
This is not to say it will be carried when you want it to. This is not to say that when you throw it down Jesus will help you right then. Not at all!! This is to say, after you have carried it your whole life and have indeed been a disciple of Jesus and have denied yourself long enough, that in times of need Jesus will be there. That Jesus will not abandon you in the wilderness. Jesus will be the Good Shepard and protect His flock. He will be a good Husband and protect His bride. Jesus will help you in times of need. Even Jesus showed us that we need help carrying our cross.
Pray for help from God, ask for help from friends, and expect help from people, even strangers from another country.
God Bless
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