Carry "Your Cross"!

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up (carry) his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man “according to his deeds”. (Matthew 16:24-27)

 

Carry “Your Cross”!

 

The Bible says, There is A Cross for Everyone!

To Carry or Take Up your Cross means, To Make God’s Goals, Your Goals!

The Cross that Jesus “Carried” was the “Bringing of God’s Salvation to Man”!

 

Our Daily Nugget

occurs at a time of Great Activity among Jesus and His Followers.  These are the things occurring in Chapter sixteen prior to our Daily Nugget.  

 

The Pharisees and the Sadducees Seek A Sign – These were the two main religious organizations, who had formed an “alliance with the government” and did not have a sincere heart/mind.  They asked Jesus to show them a sign, do something fantastic.

 

Jesus warned the people against the “Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” – Their love of the world, crowded out their love for the Lord.  They were not “peculiar” people, they were just like the world.  Don’t follow their “practices”. 

 

Peter had just confessed to Jesus, that “He Indeed was The Christ, the Son of the Living God”.  Some people were saying that Jesus was John the Baptist, some said Elijah, so Jesus asked His disciples who they said He was, Peter answered.

 

Jesus “Foretells” His Death and His Resurrection to the disciples.  This was somewhat shocking to the disciples, they assumed that Jesus, as King, would establish His Kingdom on earth now, the way other Kings do it, physically.

 

Jesus was preparing the Disciples to “Take Up and to Carry Their Cross”.

The “Purpose” for Jesus being on earth was to Take Up and Carry His Cross”!

Our “Purpose” for being on earth is, To Take Up Our Cross and to “Follow Jesus”. 

Only What We Do for Christ Will Be “Counted In The End”!

 

How do we do that?  

How do we Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus?

Jesus is our example, “we do it, the same way He did it”. Jesus prayed to the Father for “What He needed to Take Up and Carry His Cross”, He kept praying till He received it.

 

Jesus died to self! – Not My Will But Thy Will Be Done!

The first of the Ten Commandments are 

“Thou Shall Have No Other 'god’ before Me”!

Having our will ahead of God’s will is to make our will “our god”!

 

The love of Money, the love of Things, the love of Status, were not in His List of Priorities; Jesus had “One Item” on His list of priorities; it was “To Do His Father’s Will”; to Take Up and to Carry His Cross.

 

Now that we have gotten things in the “correct order”, Our “Heart/Mind” are now prepared to “Take Up and Carry Our Cross”.  Jesus did not seek to please himself, He always sought to Please God.

 

The ability to Take Up and to Carry Our Cross

is routed and grounded in our “Desire” to do God’s Will and Live Our Purpose!

The Holy Spirit will Show Us The Way!

 

Ask God to Bless You 

With The Wisdom to Take Up and to Carry Your Cross Daily,

And Watch What Happens.