Following Christ to the Cross

So, you there –

You people who are being asked by God to do the hardest things –

     To watch your dreams die,
     To live contrary to your strong desires,
     To speak when you’d rather not,
     To wait when you’d rather solve,
     To trust when you don’t understand,
     To wake up every day to a life different than the one you anticipated –

Do you see what you are?

You are the Christ-followers.

“Then [Jesus] said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” ~Luke 9:23

So when you are asked to do the hardest things –

     When the dreams are dying,
     When the desires are swelling,
     When speaking up is embarrassing and waiting feels endless,
     When trust looks foolish and getting out of bed seems hard –

You are the Christ-followers.

Look at Christ.

“…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. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls…” ~Hebrews 12:2

Do you have a Scripture, a hymn, a poem, or another piece of writing about the sacrifice of Christ that captures your heart? Right here would be a great place to share it. Not only might it keep your soul from becoming weary and discouraged, but it might do the same for a brother or sister who happens upon this today.

I’ll start.

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought,
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Your turn: