Taking Up Your Cross

"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." - Matthew 16:24


Several days ago, I shared some thoughts about denying yourself.  I would like to share a few thoughts about what comes next after denying yourself, taking up your cross.  Again, this is not something that we like to talk about because it does not sound as appealing as John 3:16 to our flesh.

Do you realize that "your cross" is God's will for you, regardless of the cost?  The sad reality is that this message of Christ has been lost in our modern day contemporary Christianity.  We try to tell people that they can follow Christ without having to first deny themselves and without them having to take up their cross.  Taking up your cross is not an option if you are going to truly follow Jesus Christ and be obedient to His Word.

I'm afraid there is also confusion today about what constitutes taking up our cross for Christ.  Modern American Christianity says that taking up your cross could involve having health problems, a rebellious child, financial pressures, or even the consequences you face as a result of your actions.  However, these things are not the cross that you and I have to bear.  The cross that we are to bear is the voluntary participation in Christ's sufferings.  Notice what Paul says in Philippians 1:29, "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."  Then in Philippians 3:10 Paul writes, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."

Many Christians also have the tendency to go from denying themselves to following Jesus, but they leave out taking up their cross.  We can never truly follow Jesus Christ until we have denied ourselves and then taken up our cross first.  Just as Jesus Christ had to suffer and die on the cross to bring salvation, you and I may have to endure suffering for God to bring salvation to those around us.  Something else very interesting is that Jesus did not talk with the disciples about the cross until they had come to know He was the Christ.  You will never be able to endure the suffering of your cross unless you are convinced that Jesus is the Christ.

I'm afraid that contemporary, modern, American Christianity has forgotten this message, but there can be no Christianity without the cross.  It does not sound appealing, desirable, or glamorous but God's will for you and I involves a cross.  If you and I are going to truly follow Jesus Christ, then we must deny ourselves and take up our cross.

Are you willing to bear your cross?

Prayer For Today:

Heavenly Father, give me the strength to not only deny myself, but give me the strength to take up my cross and follow Christ.  Lord, may You be glorified through my bearing of this cross and may it point others to the Savior.  In Jesus name, Amen!

Rejoice And Be Glad!

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118:24


Do you realize that today is a cause for celebration?  Why?  Is today a holiday or something?  No, today is a cause for celebration because the Lord has made and given us this day!  Our response should be to rejoice and be glad.

As you and I wake up each morning, we must realize that God has made and given us a day full of possibilities. We are to use this day for His purposes and for His glory.  Each day is a brand new day to start over and serve the Lord with rejoicing and gladness.  However, we must beware, today is a non-renewable resource; once it's gone, it's gone forever.  It is your responsibility and mine to use this day in service to our Lord by being obedient to Him and His Word.

Today is a gift from God and we must not waste it.  Rejoice and be glad in this day that the Lord has given you.  Use it joyfully and encourage those around you to do the same.

Here is the challenge for today: treasure the time that Jesus Christ has given to you by giving Him the glory, praise, and obedience that He is worthy of.

Prayer For Today:

Heavenly Father, help me today to rejoice and be glad in this day that You have given me.  May I not waste this day You have given me to serve and glorify You.  Help me to share the love and joy of Christ with my family, friends, neighbors, and those You put in my path today.  In Jesus name, Amen!

Honoring Jesus Christ

"Honour the Lord, with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase; So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." - Proverbs 3:9-10


If you were to ask most Christians if they honor God, most of them would probably say they do.  Let's examine our hearts today and ask ourselves the following the questions.  Do I really and truly honor Jesus Christ?  Do I honor Christ with my substance?  Do I honor Christ with the firstfruits of my increase?  It is one thing to just be generic and say that we honor God, but it is another matter entirely to say that we are honoring Jesus Christ with all of our substance and the firstfruits of our increase.

Will we choose to honor the Lord Jesus Christ today in EVERYTHING?  If we fail to honor Christ, we are inviting trouble into our lives.

Most of us lead very busy and hectic lives, barely having time for anything that is not part of our normal worldly routine.  When was the last time that you simply paused and thanked your Heavenly Father for His air that He allows you to breathe?  When was the last time you thanked the Lord for the innumerable ways He has blessed you?

Most Christians also seem to find it hard to truly honor Christ with their substance and the firstfruits of their increase.  Why?  The answer is simple, most of us are financially in debt to the point that we are unable to honor Christ with our substance.  Instead of giving the firstfruits of our increase to the Lord we have to give them to the credit card companies.  Are you honoring the Lord with your substance?  Are you honoring Him with the firstfruits of ALL your increase?

We are messing up big time when we fail to honor Jesus Christ in EVERYTHING and with ALL we have!  We must honor Christ for who He is and not just for what He has done for us.  Jesus Christ is worthy of ALL honor and praise!

Are you just honoring Christ on Sunday mornings?  Are you just honoring Christ with your words?  Are you just honoring Christ with your leftovers?  If we are truly going to honor Jesus Christ we must do it everyday, we must do with more than just words, and we must do it with the firstfruits of our increase!

Prayer For Today:

Lord, help me today to honor You with not only my words but with everything.  Thank you Father for Your goodness, mercy, and grace.  Help me always to honor you through my words, deeds, and even my finances.  I praise you from the depths of my heart for who You are, and not just for what You have done for me.  Help me to honor You with all that I am.  In Jesus name, Amen!