“And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38 AMPC)
I’ve been looking forward to this time of year. In fact, I woke up excited knowing that the journey to Easter had officially begun. But it didn’t take long before I realized that I had already taken up my cross. As much as I anticipate the joy and victory of Easter Sunday, I’m often led to pause, reflect and experience the bumps along the way. Unfortunately, there’s no fast-tracking to Easter. Like any other happy ending, it had to reach its climax. There’s no gain without pain. No crown without a cross.
So begins our 40-day journey to Easter. Whether it’s something we’ve chosen to give up or something that we have to put up with, I know that it’s not going to be an easy journey. But I’m also a firm believer that what doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger, which is what the Easter story is about. Jesus died, but He also came back to life stronger. Sometimes we have to be knocked down in order to realize that we can get back up. We must fall in order to rise again. The only way to experience the resurrection power of Christ that we all want so desperately is to take up our cross and allow it to become the reason we overcome. The cross may be part of the journey, but it’s not the end.
Rising with the Son 