Your Cross

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“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Luke 9:23

The cross in this verse as Jesus taught it to the disciples was bad treatment and the rejection that anyone would receive as a result of accepting the Gospel of the Grace of God and teaching it to others.

Along with it comes a humility that causes that born again child of God to accept and endure this treatment. In such a hostile environment as the earth, where sin resides, to save others, suffering is inevitable. Just as suffering was a part of Christ’s life, it is also a part of the Christian life. (1Peter 4:1)

As to the nature of that suffering, the bible is very clear. 2 Timothy 3:12 states that “All that will live Godly shall suffer persecution.” Indeed, persecution of any sort by the opponents of the Gospel is the suffering or the cross that Christ says a disciple of His must take on.

This is evident in Luke 9:22 “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected, of the elders, and chief priest and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” Christ here didn’t have a cross. He was given one that was designed for Barabbas.

He accepted it though to fulfill prophecy as stated in Hebrew 12:2 “…Jesus…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” However, our cross excludes sickness, diseases, poverty, oppression, depression or any form of bondage because by His death, all these curses were removed from us. Galatians 3:13

Because of persecution, some may be forced to fulfill Mark 10:29-30. But even then, these verses promise earthly as well as heavenly rewards. As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 1:18, our glory is in the cross of Jesus Christ because it is the power of God that sets us free.

In reality, our cross is a small price to pay for accepting the Gospel. In His cross, Christ bore the sins of the world. 1 John 2:2. In our cross we endure persecution there by glorifying Him 1Peter 4:14-16. Don’t despise the cross count it all joy.

Receive this promise today, ”But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:13

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