Take Up Your Cross

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 10:38-39

To walk in the pathways of Christ, one must have a desire and be committed through all the levels in phases of life that he/she will be exposed to…  This voyage isn’t for the weak at heart nor is it for those who don’t appreciate the trials and tribulations that you will have to endure… This is why Jesus says that if he (anybody) doesn’t take his cross and follow after Him “is not worthy of me…” Taking up your cross and following Jesus separates the true believer from the church attendee; it draws the dividing line between those who are fighting the good fight of faith and those who are provoked by the things of this world… Jesus declares in Matthew 15:8, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Not everyone who attends church is a true believer in Christ; not everyone who calls on Him through their lips has allowed Him in their heart… Again, in today’s verse, Jesus tells us that if we do not take up our cross we are not worthy of Him… To be counted unworthy means that we have been classified as not fit, undeserving or shameful… The goodness of Jesus outweighs the sweat and tears that will be poured out in following Him… Jesus doesn’t lose when one doesn’t take up their cross and follow Him, this is why you are the one who will be deemed unworthy… Are you worthy today of receiving His unmerited favor and blessings upon your life…? This passage teaches us today that taking up your cross is an honor and a privilege that we should eagerly undertake knowing that to be counted in that number is of the most value to our lives… The gospel of Matthew reminds us today of the responsibilities, duties and obligations that we have as a child of God… So many of us walk around proclaiming with our tongue that we are Christians, but Matthew informs us that there is only one way that is shown, by taking up your cross… The term taking up your cross has several meanings for us to understand and adhere to, but the biggest duty that that phrase embodies is denying the desires of the sinful nature and clinging to the will of God… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!