Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” 

-Mark 8:34-38

We all have a cross to carry.  It is God’s perfect will, divine purpose, precise calling, Holy Spirit-led direction, and determined plan for our lives.  Everyone’s cross does not look the same.  Your cross may look very different from mine or even quite similar, but that does not matter to the Lord.  He has tailored your cross to fit you and only you!  He knew ahead of time that you were the only one who could carry your cross, not someone else.  You have been created on purpose for a Very Great Purpose!  Just as Jesus bore the cross for the sin of all mankind, he is simply asking you to take up your cross in this life and follow him – to come after him full-force!  Yes, it may be a struggle – even painful at times- because you are consciously choosing to lay down this life to take up your new life with Jesus!  That means that you are purposefully letting go of the things of this world along with your selfish plans and desires to cling even tighter to Jesus and his plans for you.  Now that can be a real battle!  Yet Jesus steadfastly reminds us that losing the things of this life for him and the gospel will ultimately save our life!  What good is it to gain everything in this temporary life to burn in hell for all eternity and forfeit everlasting life in heaven with Jesus?  I would most definitely say that is not worth it!  Jesus even tells us that it is not worth it!  And Jesus sharply warns us that if anyone is not willing to take up his cross and follow him, but instead cowers at the thought of him and his words, then he will put that person to shame when he proves them wrong by his sudden appearance in God’s full glory with the holy angels!  So take up your cross today and follow Jesus into his wide open arms for you because he loves you!