TAKE YOUR OWN CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST!
“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
*Comment:* St. Paul is an example of one who suffered for the work of the gospel. He took up his cross and followed Christ. He wrote, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not 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.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-10; see Philippians 3:7-11
To Christians, St. Paul wrote, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Then he asked, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:34-39
The call therefore is for the true disciples of Jesus Christ to take up one’s cross and follow him. Said St. Paul, ” For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”(2 Corinthians 4:17 ). Then to Christians at Philippi, he wrote, “And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” – Philippians 1:28-29.
Therefore, take up your cross and follow Jesus Christ. God’s blessings of protection, deliverance, peace, safety and life awaits you.
*Prayer:* Our God and Father in heaven. The need to take up one’s cross and follow Jesus Christ our Lord for blessings and Salvation cannot be overemphasized. Help all Your children to do so through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.