Don’t Lay Your Cross Down

Whatever you do, don’t lay your cross down!

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus said to His disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” And again in Mark 8:34, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Jesus was telling us there was to be some suffering in following him. It requires self-denial. Everyone’s cross is different, but we all have a cross. This does not coincide with today’s views. “Have it your way; you deserve it; pamper yourself; you deserve a break” bombard us on every hand by the advertising world. Even in the church world it is “serve Jesus and be happy.”

If Jesus were here today, would His words to us be different than they were 2000 years ago? I don’t think so. Why are they repeated to us in three gospels? Mark 10:21, “Come, take up the cross and follow me,” and in Luke 9:23, “if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

The world’s viewpoint today is producing a very selfish society. No one wants to be put out or inconvenienced. Parents won’t even sacrifice for their own children. Mothers won’t sacrifice to stay home and raise their young children because they don’t want to do without material goods or they want the satisfaction of a career. (Admittedly, many times there is a real need for a mother to work outside the home.) Maybe they should lower their standard of living to be at home and teach godly principles to their children. Who is available when there is a need? Who can sit with the sick, prepare food, work at the church, etc.?

God didn’t promise the skies would always be bright. True, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. But David said in Psalms 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”

We cannot compare our cross with another’s. God has designed a cross especially for you. It has been tailor-made to take you through trials, to test you. I Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” David said in Psalms 119:71, “it is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”

Those who leave the church may say they are happier, feel freer and have more peace than they have ever had. They have lain down their cross, and are no longer carrying a burden. They are no longer an active threat to the devil.

Throughout the Bible you see the sufferings of the children of God. Of course, the psalmist David is a prime example. His life was full of ups and downs. As a shepherd caring for the sheep and fighting wild animals, facing Goliath, trying to appease King Saul with harp music, and running for his life. After he was anointed king by Samuel, it was many years before he actually ruled as king over Israel. There were still troublesome times and no long periods of peace for David. Many others could be mentioned – Abraham, Jochebed, Moses, Joseph, Esther, Daniel, the twelve disciples, the Apostle Paul, etc. Stephen did not have to die a martyr; he could have laid his cross down and saved his human life.

We may not face some of the monumental tests they did or martyrdom. It may be a cross to you to attend church services four times a week. Serving as an usher or usherette, or working in the nursery or school and other areas may be a cross. Maybe you cannot stand a brother or sister you have to work with. Paul said in Philippians 2:3, “let each esteem other better than themselves.” You may want more time for “yourself.” But what are you doing with that “self” time – sitting in front of a television, VCR, or computer? Are you using the time for drawing closer to God?

Don’t lay that cross down! Do not think you will set it down for just a little while and rest. Do not tell yourself you just need a break and will take a few months off from the band, nursery, kitchen, office, ushering, etc. That is dangerous – many have tried that and then found themselves outside the church not realizing how it happened. Titus 2:7 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works”.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” “We count them happy which endure.” James 5:11. And Paul said in Galatians 6:9, “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Have you ever heard someone say, “I need to work through some things? I’m tired. I’ve been working in the church for 30 years, it’s time for someone else to carry the load.” Let God be the judge of that. He will lighten your load if it needs lightened. Wait upon Him. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30, “take my yoke upon you….for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Do you really think He would overburden you to your destruction? Job had hard trials and tests put upon him, and his wife encouraged him to curse God and die, but “in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Job 1:22.

The devil will tell you the solution is to leave the church, but what does the word of God say. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25. And that day is swiftly approaching.

We are all sinners saved by God’s grace, but we cannot take another step in our own strength unless God gives us more grace to make it. If you really need a break, He will make a way. It doesn’t take months – if you pray, God will give that rest and strength in minutes or hours. You can then say as Paul did “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13. Even as Jesus bore the cross to Calvary, let us faithfully carry the cross God has called us to carry. Let us obey Jesus words, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24.