The Cross & EasterSample

“Carrying Your Cross Daily” Why is it that so many believers are struggling to live victorious lives? Because they are leaving the cross at the benediction. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) He didn’t say that you are to pick up your cross and then set it back down. This is an ongoing identification as Paul pointed out in 1 Corinthians 15:31 where he said, “I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” The cross represents the connection to and identification with Jesus Christ and the purpose of His life, death, burial and resurrection. It is acknowledgment of total dependency on Christ and recognition of our sin. Jesus wants to be more important to you than your own comforts. He says in Matthew 16:24, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” You must carry your cross, not Jesus’ cross. Have you ever gone swimming in a lake or in the ocean? If you chose to swim several hundred feet down in the depths of the water, you wouldn’t survive without the proper equipment because your body was not made for that environment. The cross is your equipment in this world. It is your GPS, your identity, your oxygen and your point of reference. Prayer: Heavenly Father, like Paul – I die daily. I choose to set down my own personal will, desires, ambitions, goals and needs. Only You know what is truly a need in my life. I choose to trust You by picking up my cross daily in identifying with the surrender of Jesus Christ to Your rule and authority as King. In Christ’s name, amen. Seek Him, Serve Others It’s easy to do something nice for a friend, or a loved one. I want to encourage you to do something nice for someone you are not particularly drawn to, or know. When Jesus died on the cross – it was for those of us who were dead in our sins. Make an attempt today to do a gesture of goodness to someone you may not normally consider being kind to.