This is a difficult part of christian life. If I may ask,do you know how to take up your cross and follow Jesus?.
Or should I ask instead “Have you been taking up your cross daily?
If your answer is “No”, do not worry yourself.
You are not alone.
This is a christian teaching that many of us have not really been able to understand.It took me many years to actually understand it.
I pray that by the time you go through this post,you will have a clear understanding of how to take up your cross and follow Jesus.
WHAT DOES THE PHRASE “TAKE UP YOUR CROSS” MEAN
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
Essentially God gives us conditions to be a true disciple and his follower.
But the challenge is, nobody wants a cross.
I dont want any cross!
Everybody wants to succeed in their profession or marriage or relationships.
Inorderwords,this is a difficult topic that is not really preached in todays world.
TO understand the phrase “take up your cross”, we need first to understand:
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MEANING OF A CROSS
In simple terms,a cross is the symbol of death.
It is the object or process that brings about death.A cross ,is that thing that kills the human you.
Similarly, it is that activity or occurances that kills the human character in you.
Particularly characters or behaviours contrary to christian character.
Again, a cross is that uncomfortable situation God allow s in your life.Through wich God refines you to produce a better you.
The ability to acept these situations and go through them ,means to take up your cross.
The challenge we have however is to to know if the challenge is off God or an attach from the devil.
WHAT ARE THE WAYS TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS?
The sole essence of living a christian life is for your fleshly character to be killed.
If you flesh is not killed,living out the spiritual life will be virtually impossible.
There are different kinds of crosses the lord allows in our lives.
Your cross is different from mine.
The best way to take up your cross, is to first ensure that it is a cross.Crosses are situations that do not go away even after several prayers and fasting.
Once you have established a cross,Next is to ask God to open your eyes to understand what he wants to teach you through that affliction.
Do not focus on the cross.
Focus on what God wants you to learn through it.
That is the only way you can faithfully take up your cross. And at the same time allow it to accomplish what it was there for.
HOW TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS DAILY.
Now you have established that a situation is a cross.
How then can you take up your cross and follow Jesus daily?
3 Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
The bible says we should rejoice in our suffering.
How is it posible to rejoice daily when you are suffering?The only way to do that is to understand Pauls thorn in the flesh.
Paul said in 2 corintians 12vs 9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
When you know that the tribulations weakens your power , and releases Gods power,
then you will rejoice.
Because when Gods power is released and allowed,the impossible will be made possible.
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WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS.
Everybody wants all the wonderful things of life. Similarly,Gods plan towards us, are plans of good and not of evil.
But why does Jesus want you to take up your cross daily and follow him?
There must be a good reason for this instruction.The question now is, why should you do this action and follow Jesus?
7 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
The reason you should take up your cross, is the work this process will carry out on you.That will bring about somthing much greater compaired to the affliction.
The Lord also allows crosses in our lives to test our faith.To do this faithfully,helps you pass the faith test.
When you pass the faith test,what comes after, is always greater than before the test.
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THE BENEFITS OF TAKING UP YOUR CROSS DAILY
The bible is filled with benefits you get when you take this action and follow Jesus.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, Establish, strengthen, settle you.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory
that will be revealed in us.
PRAYER FOR US
My dearest Father,taking up my cross is something I do not even know how to do.Help me to know when you allow a testin my life.
Teach me to know that your grace is sufficient for me.
And to rejoice that your power is made manifest in my weakness.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
CONCLUSION
I pray that this tips on how to take up your cross and follow Jesus will help you.
Especially in your daily walk with God.
This is actually not a very porpular topic today.But it is very important in the eyes of our Lord.
If you have any questions or challenges, do not forget to drop your comments.
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