Basic Truths Part 10: Take Up Your Cross
To be totally committed to Jesus.
A chicken and a pig were walking down the road. Coming towards them were a couple men who looked rather hungry. The chicken turned to the pig and said, ‘Why don’t we give them some breakfast... say eggs and ham?’
The pig replied to the chicken... ‘that’s easy for you... all you have to do is lay a couple eggs. For me... that would be a total commitment.’
The pig would have to die to satisfy the hunger of the men.
As a Christian, you must literally die to your own desires when you commit yourself to Jesus. Jesus said that you must bear a cross, or you cannot be His disciple.
‘And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple...In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.’ (Luke 14:27,33)
To publicly carry a cross in a way that the Bible illustrates was the brand of a criminal who was doomed for execution. Everyone knew that the person carrying a cross was going to die. The cost of becoming a follower of Jesus is a total and complete separation from the claim that you are going to live life for yourself. To carry your cross, you are symbolically dying to your self.
‘Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.’ (Luke 9:23-24)
When you die to your sins, you save your life.
You are set free from the slavery to sin when you become a servant of God.
‘But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.’ (Romans 6:22)
You don’t have to be a slave to sin any longer. Take up your cross, and follow Jesus.
Salvation is a free gift, offered to all. But when you accept that free gift, you have a responsibility to serve the living God, and to hold nothing back.
Comments
I believe taking up our cross in self-denial is, yes, choosing to serve God, but how does it all begin? Having a relationship with Him, and a real one. How? Hang out with Him. Get to know Him through His Word. Sing praises to Him. He will give you a heart like His as you seek Him. You WILL increase in love. You WILL increase in the fruits of righteousness. The works you do will not be your own filthy rags, but Christ's works through you. We are the vessel. Like a pencil in His hand. So many believers walk around defeated & discouraged b/c they have stuck themselves under the Law & are working to try & be a "good Christian". Well, you can't be. If you could do it in your own power, than Christ needlessly died, & we know He didn't. When we simply spend that time in God's presence--which, let's face it---it IS a cross b/c our flesh would rather do anything other than pray or read the Word---we will be transformed, not by our works, but through His Spirit.
An awesome book I highly recommend to everyone (it's a very easy read. Quite short) is called "Grace; The Power to change" by Dr. James B. Richards.
"Neither do I condemn you." John 8:11
First of all welcome to the forums! I haven't had a chance to read your posts yet. I agree, we do need to realize that all too often many of us christians wind up trying to be a good christian by our own works and striving. And it has been more about salvation based on our sinfulness and trying to avoid hell, rather than based on a loving relationship with Jesus, who died so He can live in us and enable us to be holy. I grew up in church, so I know church, the bible, scriptures, all that stuff, and tried to be a good christian. Needless to say, I have failed! And that is a good thing, cuz now I can stop trying to do my own works, and ask God to help me learn to let Him live thru me. But first, the basic foundation of relationship with Him. Knowing Him and truly coming to Him. I'm learning to say, "I can't do it. I need Your grace."
Tonya
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine!...I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;...You are precious and honored in my eyes, and I love you...do not be afraid, for I am with you." (Is.43:4-5)
You got what I was saying,preciousinhissight. Totally. I grew up in the church too. Never got born again til 24 1/2 years of age, but I saw almost every single person I did church with walking in their flesh trying to be good enough, not walking in His Spirit. And so I thought, 'what's the point of even trying?' That is one thing I try so hard to drill through the new believer's head. Not to again stick themselves under the Law. The moment they do that, they lose that joy they have.
"Neither do I condemn you." John 8:11
If you have to do it, your doomed! That is why it is so liberating to know that Jesus did the work for you. I don't have to measure up, my admission is based on the fact I can't do it, and both me and Jesus know it, and so He is doing it for me...
Such a relief!!!!!
Carolemarie
Moderator
Pink Cross Team Member
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EidKELGa3sg