Take up Your Cross...and Be Strong

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

Living this Christian life can be a challenge! We are constantly being challenged.  And we are called to tame our tongues and turn the other cheek. But all the taming of tongues and turning of cheeks can wear us out and be frustrating! Sometimes we just want to let loose and give people a piece of our mind. Sometimes you may even want to ball up your fist and let that co-worker know that you are tired of their shenanigans!

This verse indicates that if we are going to live this Christian life, we can expect that there will be plenty of opportunity to acknowledge…but deny those feelings; not to give in to them. Instead, to take up our cross and to bear the burden that we must, as disciples of Christ.

Jesus told His disciples that He would suffer much harm and be rejected by the authorities and religious leaders of that time. As people who have chosen to identify ourselves as followers of Christ, what would make us think that we would have an easier life experience? So the patriarch Peter tells us “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8&9) And our brother Paul reminds: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:11-13)

You see, the attacks we face may be far-reaching, government-sanctioned acts of oppression. Or they may be small, covert acts that occur within the relationship you have with your neighbor who is determined to sabotage your rose bushes and let her dog have its way with your lawn. Our task is to be alert, to recognize that our adversary is on the move, and to respond appropriately. We must pray. We must stand on the truth of our God. We must arm ourselves with the full armor of God so that we can resist the devil’s schemes. This means not cooperating with him and not adopting his ungodly thinking or allowing his corrupt messages to become our truth.

This Christian life is a challenge for sure! But it is also the best life one could ever have because the God of this universe, our Creator, is walking with us. He’s got our back. He leads us and protects us. He opens doors of opportunity and thwarts attempts at harm. He strengthens us in the challenge. He gives us hope. He is all we need. He loves us so much that He died for us! And He has set up a wonderful home for us to live in heaven with Him once this challenging life is over. “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.…” Hebrews 10:35&36

Take up your cross and be strong.