WHO? ME, CARRY A CROSS?
WHO? ME CARRY A CROSS?
Mary Ann Wray
On the way home from work today we passed a cemetery and on the side of the Mortuary was a carving of Christ carrying the cross on His shoulder. Being a former Catholic I noticed this because it was a Catholic Cemetery. I thought about how you mostly see Christ on a crucifix in a Catholic venue but here He was carry His cross. I began to meditate upon what it means for US to carry OUR cross. Jesus didn't call us to carry HIS. That was for HIM ONLY. He calls us to carry OUR Cross!
It was then the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "Jesus carried His cross all the way to death, but many Christians lay their cross down when it comes to dying to self."
I thought about the things and ways we Christians lay our crosses down rather than carrying them to our death... Things like, being late for church, not going to church, not witnessing our faith, not tithing or giving to the local church, not forgiving others their trespasses against us, not praying and fasting regularly, not submitting to authority at work, home and the church as long as they don't ask us to do or say something illegal, immoral, unethical or sinful, loving our enemies, being humble, not prideful, and the list goes on and on. You see, the cross calls for crucifying the flesh. It is a symbol of death and sacrifice.
Let's not lay our crosses down, but carry them ALL the time ALL the way to GLORY to receive the CROWN of LIFE!
When it got too heavy for Jesus, Simeon came along an helped Him carry His. When it gets to 'heavy' for us, we have the Comforter-The Holy Spirit that comes along side of us, helps us in our weakness, and empowers us to pick it up and keep going.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." Matthew 16: 24-17
Mary Ann Wray
On the way home from work today we passed a cemetery and on the side of the Mortuary was a carving of Christ carrying the cross on His shoulder. Being a former Catholic I noticed this because it was a Catholic Cemetery. I thought about how you mostly see Christ on a crucifix in a Catholic venue but here He was carry His cross. I began to meditate upon what it means for US to carry OUR cross. Jesus didn't call us to carry HIS. That was for HIM ONLY. He calls us to carry OUR Cross!
It was then the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "Jesus carried His cross all the way to death, but many Christians lay their cross down when it comes to dying to self."
I thought about the things and ways we Christians lay our crosses down rather than carrying them to our death... Things like, being late for church, not going to church, not witnessing our faith, not tithing or giving to the local church, not forgiving others their trespasses against us, not praying and fasting regularly, not submitting to authority at work, home and the church as long as they don't ask us to do or say something illegal, immoral, unethical or sinful, loving our enemies, being humble, not prideful, and the list goes on and on. You see, the cross calls for crucifying the flesh. It is a symbol of death and sacrifice.
Let's not lay our crosses down, but carry them ALL the time ALL the way to GLORY to receive the CROWN of LIFE!
When it got too heavy for Jesus, Simeon came along an helped Him carry His. When it gets to 'heavy' for us, we have the Comforter-The Holy Spirit that comes along side of us, helps us in our weakness, and empowers us to pick it up and keep going.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." Matthew 16: 24-17
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