Your Cross

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:23–27
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Your Cross
Life can be difficult. It is not always easy to navigate the ins and outs of modern society. Believing in Christ as the Son of God only makes that more difficult. Confessing it out loud and living in that confession guarantees you will face difficulties and trouble. Having revealed that His ministry will include rejection and death on a cross, Jesus explains that His disciples must be prepared to experience the same things. We must be prepared. Though the cost of discipleship can be steep, wonderful promises also apply. Those who surrender their lives, that is, lose their lives to Jesus and His Gospel, unfailingly receive salvation and eternity with God, and their lives are saved.  Because Jesus is the only way to eternal life, following Him demands that we reorder our priorities, putting Him in first and setting aside whatever does not accord with His way. By our own reason and strength, we cannot bear this cross. It is impossible for us, but not for our Lord, who embraces and bears our crosses and shame, that He might present us righteous before His dear Father in heaven.