How to Bear Your Cross and Follow Jesus

‘And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it,’ (Matthew 10:38-39).

In these days of self-reliance, it is vitally important that we believers remember the words of our Savior. Since the message of the Cross is rarely taught in church anymore, we must decide to turn to Scripture to discover the meaning of ‘taking up our cross.’

In His Steps

 

Jesus’ death on the cross was only part of His bearing of His cross. The journey to Golgotha was the other part. He lived under the shadow of death. He bore the weight of His cross, knowing it would save sinners.

While such a sacrifice on our part would not do what His sacrifice did and does every day, we can choose to bear our cross in the way God has called each of us to bear it. By obeying our Lord, we show that we love Him. This is evidence of our salvation, not a path to earning blessings.

 

God blesses those who call on His name. He wants to bless His sheep. In taking up our cross and bearing it, without grumbling or complaining (Philippians 2:14), we find ourselves walking in grace—by the grace of our Savior—and God will bless us. But remember, we are not activating God here. We are following His design and will for our lives. Every blessing that comes our way is not earned but graciously given.

It is important to remember that. It is also important to realize that sometimes, when we expect a blessing, a trial comes our way instead. This does not mean God does not accept you. It might only mean that He wants to try our faith through fiery trials so that we might grow in our knowledge of God, developing a stronger faith and relationship with the Lord (1 Peter 4:12-13).

So how do we bear our cross?

In Luke 9:23-25 Jesus says this: ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but is himself lost?’

Steps to bearing your cross:

·         Deny yourself (release your hold on your desires in order to follow God’s design for your life)

·         Obey God’s word

·         Walk in the steps of Jesus (loving our neighbors, speaking peace, etc)

·         Know that in following Him, we find the true meaning of our lives. A sense of purpose is greatest  in those who seek God’s purpose

See also Mathew 16:24 and Mark 8:34

It won’t be easy. Following Jesus is straightforward and spiritually rewarding, but rarely easy. But when you find your life in line with His teachings, when your will finally stop clashing with God’s will, then you will discover a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philipians 4:7).

It is hard, denying your desires, yourself. But Ecclesiastes advises us to enjoy the journey, and Deuteronomy 28 (among numerous places in Scripture) promises that God will bless us. This is not a blanket blessing, where God vows to give you everything you want no matter what.

 

New Thought ideology is very pleasant to contemplate, but it just doesn’t jive with Scripture. Deuteronomy 29:13-15 places restrictions, conditional points on the promise of blessings. We are not to veer to the right hand or to the left; we must be careful to observe all of God’s commands (submitting to His will and not seeking our own desires).

What is God calling you to do? What is He calling you to give up? Pride? Time in service to others? Money? Think and pray on it. Ask God to guide you in His will so that you might take up your cross and follow Him.