“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27, NIV)
Jesus died on a cross. He died to save your soul for all eternity. He died on that crossed wood in order to redeem your life from sin and evil. Jesus used that cross to break the curse upon all humankind.
The cross is huge in the history of Christianity. Some people knew the symbol of the cross even before they became Christian. The cross was such an important sign of Christianity that Christian explorers etched crosses in stone when they traveled to exotic places, Christian followers placed crosses on the tombs of the dead, and Christian devotees wore crosses around their necks. Christians used crosses in thousands of big and little ways, even placing the cross on the altar of many a church from ancient times onward until today.
While many people associate the cross with Jesus, few recognize that the cross is also a symbol to denote the mission of the faithful. According to Jesus’ own words as found in Luke 14:27, if you desire to be a disciple of Jesus, you must carry your own cross: “whoever does not carry their own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple”. Did you know that you will be expected to carry your own cross as you follow Jesus?
Some Christians do not understand that the faithful will always have a burden to bear, a cross to carry, when following Jesus. The Christian life is not all joy and rainbows! There are great needs in this world. Missions and missionaries need tending. Work needs to be done. Churches need to be pastored. Leaders need to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28). The work Jesus began continues. Though redemption has been secured in Jesus, your own endeavors in Jesus’ name need completion.
When Jesus died on that cross, His final words were, “It is finished” (John 19:30). With these words, Jesus’ work was completed. He was sent to “seek and save the lost” and fulfilled that purpose. Your work, for Jesus’ sake, began when you were born. God endowed you with special spiritual gifts in order to protect, save, minister to, and love others. Your work is your burden. It is your cross to bear. Your situation in life will require sacrifice and burden, suffering and dedication. You were NOT called to just sit in a pew in order to go to Heaven. You are NOT called a Christian because you were baptized long ago. You are deemed a Christian because you follow Jesus. And, because you follow Jesus, you must carry your own cross in honor of Jesus’ sacrifice. When you die, I hope you can say your work "is finished".
Jamie never envisioned he would have a son with Downs Syndrome. However, that is what happened. When his wife gave birth to their beautiful baby boy, it soon became apparent that the boy had the illness. Jamie knew that not only would his son be disabled in a variety of ways, but his son would also live a shorter life. Downs Syndrome causes physical, emotional, intellectual, and length of life limitations that are all too apparent.
As Jamie and his wife doted on their son, Danny, they shed many tears knowing what Danny would have to endure because of Downs Syndrome. Jamie’s wife went through depression believing she had failed her son genetically. Jamie went through his own difficulties as he contemplated that his son may not graduate college, get married, have his own children, and more. Jamie and his wife even felt guilty about their own depressive thoughts, knowing that Danny would bear the brunt of his illness.
When Danny died at the tender age of thirty-one, his funeral was very difficult for Jamie and his wife. Some of the comments made by people made the couple angry. One person said it had to be a blessing that Danny died since he had Downs Syndrome. Another person hinted that Jamie’s life would be easier without a son with so many “limitations”. Jamie did not see Danny as a son with “limitations” as much as a beautiful, loving soul. Danny could light up a room. He loved to hug people. He laughed constantly. He enjoyed life in so many ways. After a hard day at work, Jamie often thoroughly enjoyed walking in the door at home to see Danny running to give him a hug!
Several months after Danny’s death, Jamie was at a Bible study gathering where they were looking at Luke 14:27. As they studied this verse, focusing on Jesus’ words, Jamie began to think, “Was Danny my cross to bear?” Then, as if Jesus were in the room, Jamie felt the Holy Spirit speak to him, “Danny had his own cross to bear. Yours was not Danny. Yours was bringing faith in Jesus to Danny and then helping Danny share that love with others.” Nobody else in the room heard the voice of the Holy Spirit. Nobody else realized the power of that realization. But the tears that ran down Jamie’s face gave a hint to the spiritual revelation happening in that very moment.
During your life, you may carry different crosses for Jesus. What you may think is your cross to bear during one period of your life might not seem like a burden in another part of your life. What might feel like a cross to bear may actually be something else. Any way you look at it, Jesus needs you to carry out some burden, fulfill some task, follow through on some promise, and reach out in His name. You were baptized in Christ with a mission and purpose. Do you know what it is right now? On looking back in your life, can you see what it has been or how it may have changed through the years?
You may think your cross to bear might be dealing with illness, working through old age, or living with the death of someone you love. While it may be possible that your cross to bear may involve such issues, chances are that your cross to bear will more so involve showing love when another might hate, making disciples, sharing your faith, offering a prayer, helping, healing, bringing encouragement, or being a voice of hope. Jesus’ cross was not just a physical burden. There was a spiritual war going on with the cross. Satan wanted Jesus forgotten. Rome wanted Jesus silenced. The Jewish authorities wanted Jesus to go away. But, the cross changed life on this earth, brought redemption to the front, and offered grace to the world. So many people think their cross to bear involves hardship. While this may be a part of it, your cross to bear will ALWAYS have a huge spiritual component.
When Jamie looked back at the life and death of his son, Jamie realized the opportunity for faith that came with being a father to Danny. I hope you too come to realize the cross you bear so that others may come to see Jesus in you. Remember: if you are a disciple of Jesus, you WILL carry a cross. It is better you know why you carry that cross today…
The cross is huge in the history of Christianity. Some people knew the symbol of the cross even before they became Christian. The cross was such an important sign of Christianity that Christian explorers etched crosses in stone when they traveled to exotic places, Christian followers placed crosses on the tombs of the dead, and Christian devotees wore crosses around their necks. Christians used crosses in thousands of big and little ways, even placing the cross on the altar of many a church from ancient times onward until today.
While many people associate the cross with Jesus, few recognize that the cross is also a symbol to denote the mission of the faithful. According to Jesus’ own words as found in Luke 14:27, if you desire to be a disciple of Jesus, you must carry your own cross: “whoever does not carry their own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple”. Did you know that you will be expected to carry your own cross as you follow Jesus?
Some Christians do not understand that the faithful will always have a burden to bear, a cross to carry, when following Jesus. The Christian life is not all joy and rainbows! There are great needs in this world. Missions and missionaries need tending. Work needs to be done. Churches need to be pastored. Leaders need to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28). The work Jesus began continues. Though redemption has been secured in Jesus, your own endeavors in Jesus’ name need completion.
When Jesus died on that cross, His final words were, “It is finished” (John 19:30). With these words, Jesus’ work was completed. He was sent to “seek and save the lost” and fulfilled that purpose. Your work, for Jesus’ sake, began when you were born. God endowed you with special spiritual gifts in order to protect, save, minister to, and love others. Your work is your burden. It is your cross to bear. Your situation in life will require sacrifice and burden, suffering and dedication. You were NOT called to just sit in a pew in order to go to Heaven. You are NOT called a Christian because you were baptized long ago. You are deemed a Christian because you follow Jesus. And, because you follow Jesus, you must carry your own cross in honor of Jesus’ sacrifice. When you die, I hope you can say your work "is finished".
Jamie never envisioned he would have a son with Downs Syndrome. However, that is what happened. When his wife gave birth to their beautiful baby boy, it soon became apparent that the boy had the illness. Jamie knew that not only would his son be disabled in a variety of ways, but his son would also live a shorter life. Downs Syndrome causes physical, emotional, intellectual, and length of life limitations that are all too apparent.
As Jamie and his wife doted on their son, Danny, they shed many tears knowing what Danny would have to endure because of Downs Syndrome. Jamie’s wife went through depression believing she had failed her son genetically. Jamie went through his own difficulties as he contemplated that his son may not graduate college, get married, have his own children, and more. Jamie and his wife even felt guilty about their own depressive thoughts, knowing that Danny would bear the brunt of his illness.
When Danny died at the tender age of thirty-one, his funeral was very difficult for Jamie and his wife. Some of the comments made by people made the couple angry. One person said it had to be a blessing that Danny died since he had Downs Syndrome. Another person hinted that Jamie’s life would be easier without a son with so many “limitations”. Jamie did not see Danny as a son with “limitations” as much as a beautiful, loving soul. Danny could light up a room. He loved to hug people. He laughed constantly. He enjoyed life in so many ways. After a hard day at work, Jamie often thoroughly enjoyed walking in the door at home to see Danny running to give him a hug!
Several months after Danny’s death, Jamie was at a Bible study gathering where they were looking at Luke 14:27. As they studied this verse, focusing on Jesus’ words, Jamie began to think, “Was Danny my cross to bear?” Then, as if Jesus were in the room, Jamie felt the Holy Spirit speak to him, “Danny had his own cross to bear. Yours was not Danny. Yours was bringing faith in Jesus to Danny and then helping Danny share that love with others.” Nobody else in the room heard the voice of the Holy Spirit. Nobody else realized the power of that realization. But the tears that ran down Jamie’s face gave a hint to the spiritual revelation happening in that very moment.
During your life, you may carry different crosses for Jesus. What you may think is your cross to bear during one period of your life might not seem like a burden in another part of your life. What might feel like a cross to bear may actually be something else. Any way you look at it, Jesus needs you to carry out some burden, fulfill some task, follow through on some promise, and reach out in His name. You were baptized in Christ with a mission and purpose. Do you know what it is right now? On looking back in your life, can you see what it has been or how it may have changed through the years?
You may think your cross to bear might be dealing with illness, working through old age, or living with the death of someone you love. While it may be possible that your cross to bear may involve such issues, chances are that your cross to bear will more so involve showing love when another might hate, making disciples, sharing your faith, offering a prayer, helping, healing, bringing encouragement, or being a voice of hope. Jesus’ cross was not just a physical burden. There was a spiritual war going on with the cross. Satan wanted Jesus forgotten. Rome wanted Jesus silenced. The Jewish authorities wanted Jesus to go away. But, the cross changed life on this earth, brought redemption to the front, and offered grace to the world. So many people think their cross to bear involves hardship. While this may be a part of it, your cross to bear will ALWAYS have a huge spiritual component.
When Jamie looked back at the life and death of his son, Jamie realized the opportunity for faith that came with being a father to Danny. I hope you too come to realize the cross you bear so that others may come to see Jesus in you. Remember: if you are a disciple of Jesus, you WILL carry a cross. It is better you know why you carry that cross today…
The Uplifting video for today is look at what it means that God is faithful..click below to view it!