What is Your Cross?


In Mark 8:34 Jesus "called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

For Jesus - the cross meant surrendering his will to that of his Father, and doing what was asked, even though it wasn't something Jesus wanted.

In fact, three times while in the garden of Gethsemane awaiting his own betrayal and arrest, the Bible says Jesus prayed for God to "take this cup from me."

However, while God sent an angel to strengthen him for what lay ahead, He did NOT relent in directing Jesus on the path he needed to take.  Even though the Bible tells us that "being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." - Luke 22:41

Imagine how hard it must have been for God - hearing his son begging for a reprise, yet knowing his torture, crucifixion and death was what was needed to break OUR bonds of sin?

Imagine how hard it must have been for Jesus - knowing what lay ahead to finally say, "not my will but yours be done."

So WHAT IS YOUR CROSS?

What piece of YOUR WILL are you still holding on to - hoping you can plead, bargain or cajole God away from asking you to surrender it to Him?

Understand that God wants your heart.  Your WHOLE heart.  For it is only when you surrender it to Him, that He is able to use you for the purpose He designed you for.  

The gift of free will enables you to choose who you will follow.  

Will you follow your own "gut instincts" and intuition, OR will you take up your cross and follow Him?



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