Take Up Your Cross
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:7–11
The Bible calls us to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus (Mark 8:34). But what does that really mean? How do we do that? Does it mean caring for a chronically ill family member, or maybe putting up with a melancholy spouse who doesn’t communicate, or living paycheck to paycheck. It may mean some of those things, but it’s also something more.
Since Jesus died for our sins on the cross, then taking up our cross means dying to those same sins. Giving them up. Casting them aside. That’s what it means when Paul in today’s Scripture reading tells us to become like Jesus in His death.
A cross is an instrument of death, and when we take it up daily, we learn how to die to ourselves, to our selfish wants and wishes. But take heart! The cross also means life. Not just life eternal, but joy and peace and power in the very midst of today’s hardships and worries.
Lord Jesus, I’m so glad You spoke about taking up my cross daily. Each new day gives me a fresh opportunity to do that. Maybe I didn’t pick it up yesterday or the day before, but I can pick it up today. Today I will put You first. Today I will place Your desires before mine.
From Disability to Ministry: Serving God While Living with Terminal Illness
Christopher Davison has faced many difficulties because of his Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive, terminal illness that has led to quadriplegia. Diagnosed at age 6 and in a wheelchair by 8, Christopher didn’t expect to live past his 20s. Now in his 30s, he lives to serve God and help others to find hope and truth in their difficulties. He joins the podcast to talk about living with a progressive disability, his experience as a pastor for 10 years, and how God’s strength shines through brightest in our own weakness.
