Our cross

Our cross

Scripture:

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Observation:

In this passage, our Lord gives His disciples a stern warning on the importance of acknowledging Him before others. Whoever acknowledges Jesus before others, he or she will the Lord also acknowledge before God the Father in Heaven. Whoever does not acknowledge Jesus, he or she will the Lord disown before His Father in Heaven. Following Jesus is a serious matter indeed, and later the Jewish Christians would come under great pressure to renounce Christ from their fellow Jews, and shortly after, all Christians in the Roman empire would be under great pressure to do the same, on pain of death. Today, there are many Christians in oppressive regimes who likewise face this kind of great pressure, and they acknowledge Christ to their peril on earth, yet receive great reward in Heaven.

The Lord then goes on to explain how He has not come to bring peace, but a sword. The sword is representative of violent conflict, and because of the Gospel, many have found themselves outcast and made enemies by the members of their own household. The important point here is that the Lord must come first, no matter what the cost.

Finally, the Lord speaks of taking up our cross and following Him. What is our cross? It is our calling, our responsibility, our suffering that God has called of us. Each one’s cross is different. It is a cross known only between a man and God. Still, taking up our cross is not a solitary affair, done by the effort and strength of man. Instead, it is done by following Jesus. Jesus leads the way, giving us the wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit, and our part is to follow. What is God’s will for our lives? We can’t see the big picture, but our part is to seek Christ, and follow as He leads us. Many chase after money, wealth and fame, but when they find it, they find it is meaningless. However, those who lose their lives to serve Jesus find they have found something infinitely more precious!

Application:

Remember that it is our duty to acknowledge Christ before men. We must heed Christ’s warning never to disown Him. Know that for some of us, there will be conflict in our family because of Christ. Yet thank Him that even in our weaknesses, He gives us the grace to overcome all things by His strength. Ask the Lord to show us our cross and to understand it increasingly as we serve Him. Seek to follow Jesus one day, one moment at a time. Thank Him that He has not left us alone.

Prayer:

Bless Thee, Lord God, for the greatness of Thy works. Your name is praised over all the earth, and Your faithfulness extends to the skies. Guard and protect me and my family I pray, Heavenly Father. Grant me the strength and the courage to stay true to You, should times of great testing come to me. Grant me Thy precious grace, Lord Jesus, in times where my faith causes conflict in the family. Show me my cross more and more O Lord, that I may understand what I need to do. Let my eyes always focus on You and follow You. I praise You that You never leave us alone. Praise Your holy name O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.