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Tag: Take up the Cross

Comprehending the Cross

People connect the Cross with Christianity. Christians often view the Cross as a punishment that Jesus had to undergo in the hands of the Romans. While the Cross is an object of affection, many dont want to have to do anything with it and some even hate it because it convicts of sin, and commands to surrender totally.

But what is the Cross? It is more than two pieces of wood, on which Jesus was crucified. It is God’s billboard of love for his people. To comprehend the Cross is to understand the fullness of God’s love. It is the breadth, the length, and depth and height of the love of Christ [that passeth all knowledge]. And Jesus said, “Take up your cross [daily] and follow me” (Luke 9:23).  The Cross is not merely an ornament to be worn, but an ordinance (command) to be borne.

Point(s) to ponder:
Are you/I wearing the Cross or bearing the Cross?

Ephesians 3:17-19 (KJV)
17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
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May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
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And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Luke 9:23-24 (KJV)
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And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
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For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Fear not because you are NOT forgotten!

Luke 12:4-12 is a very hard passage to stomach for us, mere mortals that love life so much, that we want to live forever on earth. The call to be a child of God comes with its problems and is not necessarily an easy task. Persecution can come in various forms, from simple ridicule and mockery to the loss of life. 2 Thessalonians 1, 1 Peter 4:2 all counsel us that we are called indeed to “take up the Cross and follow Jesus” a.k.a. suffer for his name. This was indeed explicitly given in the call of Paul, the Apostle as recorded in Acts 9:16 which states that “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake”.

Should it be, that we are faced with a situation to deny the name of Jesus or face death, Jesus tells us what our answers should be.
Fear not of men that can merely kill the body, but can do nothing more (Luke 12:4)
But Fear him (God) who after he hath killed you, has the power to cast you in hell a.k.a kill your soul (Luke 12:5)
He (God) who does not even forget a sparrow, has numbered and knows the very hairs in your head, and He (God) will not forget you.

Fear not because you are NOT forgotten!

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