Take Up Your Cross

 
Matthew 10:34-11:1

 Not The Easy Way

³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ 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—
³⁶     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

³⁷ “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. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

⁴⁰ “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

To be a disciple of Jesus is to walk a tough and demanding path, one that includes a daily cross. It does not promise popularity, but sacrifice and self-giving. Yet, it is also a simple path, for merely giving a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty merits praise and a due reward. The secret is to keep our mind's eye on Jesus bearing his cross, as in the image above, often alone and demanding all our strength. It's certainly not a popularity contest, but a huge effort that demands courage, strength and "stick-to-it-iveness."  .We need the help of each other, and certainly the help of Jesus, to do this, but it is possible and it is what Jesus expects and invites us to do.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, as you carried your cross and "bought" life for us, so may I take up my cross daily and "buy" life" for others and myself. Amen.