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As Christians we are told that we must take up our cross for Christ. Have you ever thought what that means in practical terms? I think a good definition comes from the pen of A. W. Pink who once said: “Taking up my ‘cross’ means a life voluntarily surrendered to God.”1
I know in my own life when I gave my heart to Jesus I soon learned that the Christian walk is a life of sacrifice, service, and the surrendering of my will to that of the Father. Not only that it meant that some of my comfort had to be replaced with a desire to care for others. In addition, taking up my cross meant that working for God’s glory had to become the chief passion in my life and that whatever suffering that might entail had to evaluated in light of eternity.
In my personal walk with Jesus two verses that have proved very helpful in allowing me to endure the challenges that carrying my cross for Christ have entailed are (Romans 8:18) and (Hebrews 12:2).
Romans 8:18
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
I have learned that whatever trials and suffering I have to endure for the sake of the gospel, while difficult and often not pleasant, can’t compare with the glory that my endurance brings to the Lord, as well as the eternal weight of glory, that I am accruing in heaven. (2 Corinthians 4:17). And as I have grown in my faith in the Lord I have seen that trials and suffering are often God’s tools, and part of His divine plan, to not only mold me more into the image of Christ, but to use them to bring glory to Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2)
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
I often wondered what motivated Jesus to go to the cross. I think part of the answer lies in this verse for we read: “…for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” I believe that Jesus looked down the corridor of time and said if I go to the cross I will bring salvation to millions of souls. This thought must have brought so much joy to His heart that it gave Him the motivation to go to Calvary. Simply put Jesus was willing to undergo suffering in service of a higher goal. In the case of Christ, that higher goal was to redeem humanity from the curse of sin and our date with eternal damnation.
As we know the price Jesus had to pay was very steep – horrific suffering on a wooden cross, intense humiliation, and then the ultimate price, death. Yet, we know that Jesus concluded that since this was the will of the Father for His life, and that God works all things together for good to those that love Him, Jesus went with joy in His heart to Calvary.
In the case of you and me, while suffering is never pleasurable, even when it is done to advance the kingdom of God, it can fill our hearts with intense joy since I can think of nothing more wonderful than having the approval of our heavenly Father and watching our efforts bless others. For you see Christian service opens up for us levels of personal fulfillment far exceeding any others. In fact, self-denial and suffering can bring us joy that we can’t get in any other way.
While Satan thought he won the victory at Calvary, Jesus flipped the script on him. And instead of viewing the cross as an instrument of ultimate suffering and death, He chose to view the cross as the instrument that would bring ultimate glory to the Father and salvation to you and me! And oh what joy this must have brought to His soul!
So are you still having trouble enduring your cross? Then why not turn your suffering into glory and your sorrow into joy. I guarantee these shifts in perspective will prove extremely helpful in allowing you to carry your cross.