Thoughts for the Day

Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Just what does taking up your cross and denying oneself mean? Many Christians wear a cross round their neck, others will bow or genuflect before a cross, but do we really take on board what the reality would have meant to those who first listened to the words of Jesus? Crucifixion was the most terrible of deaths and it could take days to die from the shock, the blood loss, and collapse of internal organs. The condemned person was forced to carry their own cross, thus indicating their approaching death to the crowds, who would have added insult to injury.

If we claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ and carry our cross we must be willing to sacrifice our time, energy, and resources for the sake of Jesus Christ, and for others. We must be willing to put aside our own personal desires for pleasure, comfort or material gain which the world seems to demand we choose. To deny oneself is to put the priorities of our Lord and his kingdom first, and ourselves last.

A simple way of thinking about this is to look at another of Jesus' sayings: "No-one can serve two masters; for they will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other." (Matthew 6.24). As a secretary I only once worked for two bosses, and believe you me it was a disaster. So we can't be half in and half out. It's all or nothing. We either live the way that the selfish bit of us wants, or the way Jesus wants.

Heavenly Father,
Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
taught His disciples
to take up their cross
and to deny themselves.
Help us to learn to take up our cross,
whatever that may be without complaint,
and be willing to sacrifice our time,
our energy, and our resources for You.
Amen.