Taking Up Our Cross

We all wake up with the same potential every day.  We all wake up with the opportunity to do our best for Him. 

The cost of discipleship is something each of us should consider.  The Lord demands total commitment; but the rewards are far greater than anything we could begin to imagine!

Taking Up Our Cross

Whew!  Well, here I am Lord.  You said, “take up your cross and follow me.”  And so here I find myself.  I didn’t know for sure if I would make it, there were a lot of distractions in the way.  But I finally made it. 

 Oh, there’s the pretty young lady in the blue dress.  She was ahead of me a little bit; I see she made it.  That’s good. 

 Me?  What do you mean, Lord?  Oh, I see.  You want to know why it took me so long to get here.  Well, the truth is … there were some things I needed to go take care of first.  Like what? you say. 

 Well, God – there were my friends down at Old Joe’s Bar & Grill.  I had to go tell all those girls bye.  I had to tell them I wouldn’t be coming back.  I couldn’t be hanging around with them if I was going to pick up a cross, right? 

 What did you say?  I didn’t quite catch that, Lord.  OH!  I see.  You think I should have asked them to come with me.  I should have told them the good news about you? 

 Well, maybe so, but I don’t think those girls down at Old Joe’s would be the least bit interested in taking up Your cross to follow You.  They would have to give up too much fun to do that. 

 Huh?  I mean what? – Sir?  Those girls said the same thing about me? Mmmm .. well, I guess you never know about folks, right God?  Maybe when I am used to my own cross, I can go back and ask if they want to meet You.  For now, I just kind of want to keep everything quiet. 

 So how does this cross-thing work?  Am I supposed to pick out my own?  I gotta say it doesn’t look like there are too many to choose from.  These are not very stylish at all.  Why do they all look so much alike? 

 What, Sir?  Oh, look over here?  Yes, that’s where the lady with the blue dress was earlier.  I’ll go check it out. 

 Lord these aren’t any better than the other ones.  They are all rough.  I might get splinters.  But, oh all right.  Yes, I understand.  Great promises come with taking up our cross.  But all that seems so far away.  I’m still pretty young.  I have a lot of life left to live. 

 I don’t want to lose all my friends.  Maybe I can hide my cross under my clothes – then no one will know I’m wearing one.  They won’t know I’m trying to follow You.

 So I wonder, God – do You have any crosses that are a little smaller?  Something I can hide under my coat?  That would be perfect if you did. 

 Lord?  Lord?  Where did you go, Lord?

"And He said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."  Luke 9:23

Christ above all things -- Robin