Mark 8:34 – “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.'”
Today we are going to look at what “take up his cross” means to us today.
Lots of people have a cross necklace. I have one. But this phrase in Mark does not imply that putting on your necklace every morning is “taking up your cross.”
No, it is way more than that. Oh, the necklace is a great reminder, but I think when we see something often enough that sometimes it loses it’s meaning.
“Take up your cross” explains complete dedication. When Jesus committed Himself to the cross, He was in it until the bitter end. The cross symbolized finality. There was no getting out of it.
This is the kind of dedication Jesus desires of us. The kind where we are in it and in it deep. Completely and wholly given to Him.
How does that work in our modern world? How do we maintain complete dedication to our Lord and Savior while doing what we need to do here? Very carefully princess, very carefully.
Don’t get me wrong. I fail at this daily. I need this just as much as you do. I am not at the level of commitment that I need to be. I have a hard time juggling as well. But there is my problem – “I”. Why do I always think that “I” have to do it? Why can’t I just sit back and let God tell me what to do? Stubborn sinner that I am wants to do it all and do it all perfectly.
God wants my heart and my devotion. He wants me to do my very best, to lend a hand to others, to share myself with others, to show Him to others. He wants me to see every situation I come upon as an opportunity to share His love. That’s what total devotion means. That’s what He wants.
The Princess Project 