PICK UP YOUR CROSS
The only places where one can see if they have really died to “self” is in their families or marriages. In general, the church does not speak much about dying to “self” because they do not want to offend people. Topics like sacrifice and commitment are rarely mentioned when in reality people need to hear about this so that they are challenged and enabled to reach God’s purpose for their lives.
Our “self” will always want more instant gratification and less commitment and discipline. Nowadays, everybody wants a “light” gospel or a “light” service, but they don’t want to be challenged to change, pick up their cross and follow Jesus.
The Bible says, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24 NLT).
Following Jesus with all our hearts, requires a cost and that is what it means to pick up your cross and follow him. There are things and people you will have to let go of in order to follow Jesus and fulfill His will for your life. Jesus said, “… you must give up your own way…” (Matthew 16:24 NLT).
We do not own our life, before the foundation of the world, God made us so that we would accomplish His perfect will. Therefore, we can accomplish many achievements and have many titles, we can even have all the money, fame, and power in the world, but at the end, we will still feel unsatisfied because we were made to fulfill the Heavenly Father’s will, not our own.
We are children of God, not slaves to our sinful nature. We were made to serve Him with our talents, gifts, abilities, careers, money, time and energy. We were born to for this. It is true that this path isn’t easy, but the Bible says:
Think about it:
What is the price you need to pay to accomplish God’s will?
What does it mean to pick up your cross?