REFLECTION…
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Unless you
take up your cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.’
In our modern world the ‘cross’ is
often something beautiful or something to be admired, like a gold necklace that
we wear around or neck or an impressive carving made out of wood that adorns a
wall of many churches. It’s difficult for us to imagine a crude and cruel
instrument of torture like the ‘old rugged cross’.
When we think about ‘taking up our
cross’ we often concentrate on those situations and circumstances that are
imposed upon us—those things that we can’t do anything about—like the loss of a
loved one, a debilitating disease or a friendship that has been destroyed
because of a stupid misunderstanding!
Being a disciple of Jesus in the modern
world is a serious business, and taking up our cross’ is more than impositions.
For me, ‘taking up our cross’ has more to do with the choices we make in life.
I’m not suggesting that Christians should actively seek out suffering to ‘prove’
our commitment, but I do believe that ‘taking up our cross’ has to do with the
sacrifices that we choose to make for our self, such as making time for people
and ‘giving’ to those who are less fortunate, loving those we would rather have
nothing to do with, getting involved within the life of a church rather than
being a backseat observer, the painful decision for the sake of others or the
‘holding’ of our tongue!
To personally know something of the love
of Jesus, helps turn our sacrifices from acts of begrudge into a lifestyle of
privilege! Think about it!
