While touring the stations of the cross in the old city of Jerusalem, I wanted to take a picture of the cross you see in the photo below, but was told that I could actually carry it and was shown the proper way to do it. Here was a practical lesson on how we, as Christians, need to carry our cross not just admire it from afar.
Jesus laid out the cost of following Him, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). And carrying our cross also means dying on it. Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). The bottom line is that we can’t possibly follow Jesus if we’re not willing to bear the hardships that come along our walk with Him, and giving up those things that no longer fit our calling as His followers.
Maybe you’re just at step one where you’re learning to take up your cross and that’s okay. Because soon enough, with the help of the Saviour, you will also want to crucify the things that no longer feel right.
Rising with the Son 