Take Up Your Cross

This is certainly one of the harder things Jesus asks of his followers, but what does this mean to you?  Many think that Jesus meant that we were to take up the burdens we bear, and willingly follow Jesus wherever he leads. He says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). Jesus was talking about dying to self, meaning absolute surrender to God.  This is certainly a difficult thing for those of us who live in a material world, where people believe the more you’ve got, the better you are. 

It’s all about priorities.  Jesus says that our first priority should be to follow God’s leading in all that we do.  Denying yourself means turning all of your problems over to God, trusting that God will get you through whatever you face.  Denying yourself means putting the needs of others ahead of your own. Denying yourself means entrusting in God’s grace for your life.  You are a beloved child of God, and nothing that you can do can separate you from God’s love.  God wants you. The beautiful hymn I Surrender All could be a mantra for you as you go about your day:

All to Jesus, I surrender; all to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Hiim, in His presence daily live.

-- Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896