PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 10:32-39
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38)
Jesus came to displace the dominion of darkness with the kingdom of light.
He stands against hate, greed, injustice, inequality, violence, lust, deceit, etc.
He stands with the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the abused, the homeless, etc.
He comes to restore life, hope, peace, joy, health, goodness… the kingdom of God.
This is a social revolution, turning things right-side up.
Jesus asks his followers to join him in his mission against evil and its consequences.
And to do nothing is still doing something, only not something good.
Believing in Jesus is not just a ‘religious’ belief, disconnected from life.
It is a call to arms, a signing up to carry the sword that Jesus carried.
The ‘sword’ Jesus brings is the cross, willingly suffering to help others.
The cross is how Jesus helps us, and to carry that cross is to help others!
So why am I so eager to find peace rather than to suffer with those who suffer?
Am I more concerned about ‘my only comfort’ than about the comfort of others?
Am I bearing the cross, or a cushion?
PRAYER
Lord, practically speaking, what does it mean for me to carry the cross? Open my eyes to see those who suffer under the evil, and to see how I can take a stand with them, to help them.
With Jesus – it’s all in! No dabbling – no just a little bit – no it’s all or not at all. Yet when Jesus is primary all the secondary stuff becomes important too – but from a ‘Jesus’ perspective – from a hopeful perspective: the hope that my loved ones and those I interact with might also find Jesus and make Him their all in all! I can’t have any other ‘idol’ – no one person, thing or ambition that takes precedence over Jesus. Yes, Jesus teaches me to love my fellowman – even those I have to struggle to love!
Living for Jesus means that I am in odds with the world. But how often do I stand up for Him? Am I being persecuted for what I believe? Do others see Him in me? I need to walk in His Light every day and I need to make my LIGHT SHINE. I need to carry that LIGHT wherever I go. Words are not enough unless accompanied by action/deeds. Help me daily Lord to be an instrument of Your peace.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.