Take up Your Cross
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake.
PHILIPPIANS 1:29
+
Take up Your Cross
We need to have a definition of what "taking up one's cross" is. "Taking up one's cross" is willingly taking on and bearing the hatred of the devil, the world, the flesh, sin, death, etc., for the sake of the Word and faith. Here there is no need to choose the cross. Just begin with the first part of [this] life and deny yourself, that is, denounce the righteousness of your works and confess the righteousness of faith, and the second part will straightaway be present, that is, the cross, which you are then to accept, just as Christ accepted His own. But since the hypocrites condemn the first part and defend their own righteousness, they not only do not take the cross upon themselves, but they even become the crucifiers and killers of the godly—those who are bearing the cross.
From Annotations on Matthew (Luther's Works 67:293)
PHILIPPIANS 1:29
+
Take up Your Cross
We need to have a definition of what "taking up one's cross" is. "Taking up one's cross" is willingly taking on and bearing the hatred of the devil, the world, the flesh, sin, death, etc., for the sake of the Word and faith. Here there is no need to choose the cross. Just begin with the first part of [this] life and deny yourself, that is, denounce the righteousness of your works and confess the righteousness of faith, and the second part will straightaway be present, that is, the cross, which you are then to accept, just as Christ accepted His own. But since the hypocrites condemn the first part and defend their own righteousness, they not only do not take the cross upon themselves, but they even become the crucifiers and killers of the godly—those who are bearing the cross.
From Annotations on Matthew (Luther's Works 67:293)
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Not AshamedIn Every RespectWe Are In His HouseHear His VoiceTodayBut You BelieveRest in ChristRest in FaithRest in Christ’s WordConfidence in Our Great High PriestOur Eternal High PriestCalled by GracePerfect Through SufferingA Little MilkFoundationGod Comes to UsFaith in ChristObtaining the PromiseThe King of PeaceBlessed by the SuperiorA Priest Forever in ChristThe Forever PriestA Better HopeOur Eternal IntercessorOur Perfect High PriestOur Eternal High PriestThe Better Covenant in ChristA New CovenantPromises KeptOnly The High PriestNot the Blood of Goats
February
Only at DeathOnce and For AllImpossibleThe Perfect SacrificeThe Once-for-All SacrificeOnce for AllForgiven Once for AllDraw Near with a True HeartA Fearful ThingRemembering with JoyEnduranceOf Things Not SeenBecause of LoveBy FaithThe Builder is GodAs Good As DeadStrangers HereFaith in the God Who ProvidesFaith Looks Beyond the PresentBy Faith, Not FearBy Faith, Not by SightFaith That EnduresPerfected in ChristEyes on JesusDisciplineCast His Eye On YouIt HurtsWeak Knees
March
Strive for PeaceNo Fire For YouMount ZionAn Unshakable KingdomA Kingdom That Cannot Be ShakenBrotherly Love in ChristConfidence in ChristSteadfast in ChristOutside the CampSacrifices of PraiseJoyful Obedience in ChristPray for Your PastorsEquipped by the Blood of ChristEncouragement in ChristGrace Be With You AllGod’s Sovereign HandFaithful in a Foreign LandFaithful in the Small ThingsTrusting GodWisdom from AboveEarthly Wisdom Fails, But Christ ReignsTrue Wisdom and the CrossThe Wisdom of Man FailsConfidence in God's MercyGod of Mercy and MightA Deliverer Sent by GodNo Wisdom but ChristThe Kingdom That EnduresThe Rock That Stands ForeverEarthly Kingdoms CrumbleThe Kingdom That Stands Forever