Have You Carried the Cross?

Orignally posted on 09 July 2011 by Rev Tommy Carpenter

True discipleship demands that we model the actions, attitudes and behavior of our LORD and SAVIOR.

JESUS said, "If any man will come after ME, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow ME" (Luke 9:23).

The sentence starts with the big word "if!" as a choice of the follower. If your desire is to be a disciple of JESUS CHRIST, then you must come after HIM. This act will require that you deny yourself of any other pursuit and be solely focused on following HIM.

There are those who want to walk with the LORD without personal sacrifice or at their own leisure. When the "Cross" is mentioned, many will try to walk around it or turn back to find their own way. But, anyone who follows JESUS must understand that there is a cross for everyone to bear.

We are to take up our cross daily. Daily is the diligent discipline that molds us into the true likeness of CHRIST.

An unknown author penned these words:

GOD COUNTED CROSSES
I counted dollars while GOD counted crosses.
I counted gains while HE counted losses!
I counted my worth by the things gained in store,
But HE sized me up by the scars that I bore!
I coveted honors and sought for degrees;
HE wept as HE counted the hours on my knees!
And I never knew 'till one day at a grave,
How vain are these things that we spend life to save!

The great English preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon said from his pulpit: "There are no crown wearers in heaven, who were not cross bearers here on earth."{jacomment off}