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Do You Carry A Cross?

by Greg Robbins
10/17/2016 / Devotionals

Modern day Christianity is in danger of being without a cross. Oh yes, we have the cross as our symbol, and it is on the Christian flag. But we have reduced the cross to an emblem. It is something of beauty. Even non-Christians have told me how they really like crosses as ornaments and symbols. When I wore one around my neck, I received lots of positive comments.

In Roman times a cross was an ugly thing of shame and suffering. Every single person who bore a cross had something in common. They all were later nailed to that cross, and they died on that cross. The cross was not an emblem of beauty, or an ornament. The cross was a deadly instrument that killed everyone who hung upon it. The cross won every argument and controversy. Someone was nailed on it, and several hours or days later, they died upon it. The cross was a highly effective tool of torture and death. No one in the early church would have worn a cross around their neck, or had one in their home as a work of art.

Luke 9:23-24 "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. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."

Mark 10:21-22 "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you lack: go your way, and sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

Notice that Jesus commanded those who followed him to take up their cross. Was he speaking of a literal physical cross? No he was not, for none of them bore one. Jesus was speaking of our bearing a spiritual cross, that is highly effective to putting an end to the life we once knew, and giving us a new life. Jesus by offering us a cross to bear, has promised us death to our old life, and a new life of suffering and shame. To be a true disciple of Jesus, you must bear a cross. Jesus only promises salvation to those who bear a cross.

Jesus never told us to die upon our cross, but to bear it. We are to carry our cross every single day of our life upon this earth. We are still very much alive. We are called to live a sacrificial life of self-denial and obedience. So many today do not want to truly repent, or to suffer for Jesus. They do not want to be persecuted for obeying what Jesus said.

What exactly is meant by carrying a cross? It is to deny yourself, to deny your own will. You choose to submit yourself to do God's will and not your own will. By bearing your cross you are enabled to obey what Jesus taught and commanded. In the process of doing this, you will experience pain, suffering, and shame.

So let us put the cross back into Christianity. Let us pick up our own personal cross daily, bear it, and follow Jesus.

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