YOUR CROSS

Matthew 16:24-26 - "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Christian, consider the words of Christ above. If you are a Child of God and are following after Christ, you will have a Cross to bear. We each have our own Cross if we belong to Christ. Some of us may struggle under a sickness. Others a debt. Some are persecuted most violently for the faith. Others may suffer under the load of a partner that fights against your sanctification. Be of good cheer and do not murmer. God has divinely placed these things in our lives to conform us to the image of Christ. If that is our goal and we seek above all else Christ and his Kingdom then look apon your cross and see the Loving Hand of God himself. Oh, how the Martyrs embraced the Crosses, Stakes and Fagots.

Consider the words from this old Hymn: "Must I be carried to the skiesOn flowery beds of ease,While others fought to win the prize,And sailed through bloody seas."

Verses from II Corinthians: 1:5,6,7- "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for you consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." 4:8-10 "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but no forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body."

This is no easy road we are on and we will one day look back on these minor trials and praise God for the Grace we received from them. May he be glorified in our lives! Keep your chins up and eyes on Christ and be of good Cheer lest others see and think we serve a hard master.