February 10, 2023: Take Up Your Cross

"And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23, ESV)

"If" though small in stature, is mighty in influence. "If" has commanding authority. It can be an open door or a closed gate. When Jesus uses the word 'if,' we cannot just read over it.

In Luke 9:23, Jesus calls us to count the cost of following Him. To be His followers means that daily we carry our cross. The cross was an instrument on which a man died. Every day this is to be done. It is not a one-time event. It is not just for a little while.  Taking up one's cross is to be done every day of the Christ follower's life. It means we die daily to our will and submit wholeheartedly to His purposes. In so doing, we free ourselves to live according to the leadership of the King of the Kingdom.

Taking up our cross daily means we are ready to follow His leadership at a moment's notice. I am reminded of our Lord's prayer in the garden, "Not my will but yours be done." The cross was before Him. Listen to the "if' that Jesus faced: "My Father, "if" this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." (Matthew 26:42, ESV) The specific condition that Jesus met—the cross—opened a new eternal world of light and life for you and me. When you take up your cross and follow Him, what part of eternity opens to you?