Saturday, March 8, 2014
Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
BEARING OUR OWN CROSSES
When we think of "bearing a cross," we usually think of it in terms of putting up with some difficulty or trial in life without complaining. Certainly Jesus wants us to accept what we are given from God's hand without complaint, but as He explained to His disciples, Christian cross-bearing involves more than that.
Christ calls upon His forgiven children to deny themselves. That is, to make what He wants first in their lives and to place themselves and their own desires somewhere beneath. This is truly what it means to "bear the cross," and it is so difficult to do because our sinful nature rebels against it at every turn. We want our own way every time, and we are sometimes loathe to give it up for the sake of Christ, so hesitant to say, "Not my will, but Yours be done."
What can make us more willing to bear the cross? What can make us even glad to do it? Seeing Christ bearing His own cross for us. Watching Him in Gethsemane as His sweat falls like great drops of blood, we know that He is fighting inwardly, wondering if there is some other way to save mankind from sin and its deadly consequence than through an agonizing death and abandonment. The answer is "No," and we see how Jesus then denies Himself and carries His cross by humbly submitting to the will of His dear Father in heaven.
In the end, His willingness to bear the cross leads to our resurrection from the dead. His cross-bearing makes safe the way that leads on high, closing the path to misery and opening the way to everlasting life.
Take up your cross daily and follow Him? It is a privilege indeed!
Grant that I may willingly
Bear with Thee my crosses,
Learning humbleness of Thee,
Peace mid pain and losses.
May I give Thee love for love!
Hear me, O my Savior,
That I may in heaven above
Sing Thy praise forever.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 140:6)
