Luke 9:23-25, Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?
This verse from Luke was my Lent reading for the day and during my time of reflection I thought about that word “daily.” Jesus stipulates to be a disciple of his you must “daily” pick up your cross and follow Him.
One of the questions I asked myself was, “Am I with great passion and delight taking up my cross daily?” I want to lie and tell you “of course I am.” ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
The booklet I am reading on a daily basis describes that when Jesus offered this teaching it must have been “gut-wrenching” to his audience. They knew what the symbol of the cross meant: “a death in utter agony and humiliation.”
I believe this might be the hardest thing for me to do. Having learned “the way of the cross” from male and female mentors I can testify it is “gut-wrenching.” There are days that I don’t want to feel the weight of it calling me to die to some furtive glance that my flesh desires or to be honest with friends about how I’m really doing? I still have to war within to confess my sin to another because my flesh resist “the way of the cross.”
Isn’t it funny, crazy, insane, how a word sprinkled with the power of the Spirit can remind us of the truth that has brought freedom in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
Going the “way of the cross” identifies us as His disciples.
I’ll leave you with those famous words from one of my favorite Hymns, “I will cling to the old rugged cross,