Take Up Your Cross (Part III)


Have you taken up your cross? Tell me about it. Describe it to me.

Where did you find it? In physical pain, through loss of family or relationship, in occupation; by impediment, ruin of security, poverty, weakness of your flesh, or persecution?

How big is God...to you? Multiply that by an infinite number and you describe Him closer than you originally thought. His love for you is equally infinite and matchless. My understanding of the manifold mysteries of God limit me from adequately describing how He works, but I can tell you why: His incomparable love for you!

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

His charity is unceasing toward you. The cross is His way to infinite love, to paradise, to glory, to joy. It hurts, but it hurts like heaven.

The cross leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Only the beloved of God, in harmony with their cross, realize and embrace this principle: we carry in our body the death of Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be revealed.

The cross knows...that weeping endureth for a night, but joy comes in the morning. In the cross we discover that in dying we live; that the pains of suffering release the fragrance of His divine nature.

"Realize that you must lead a dying life; the more a man dies to himself, the more he begins to live unto God."
                                      - Thomas a Kempis (The Imitation Of Christ)

In transgression we see and see not, hear and hear not, but sin has met its match in the cross. They cannot co-exist. Like fetters the transgressions of our nature fall beneath the blood.

Your cross will lead you to joy unspeakable, holiness, peace beyond understanding, and boundless love.

The cross He has chosen for you and the love He bestows are uniquely, intricately woven.

 Blessed are those that mourn;
                Blessed are the poor in spirit;
                        for comfort and the kingdom will be theirs.

Isaiah 38:17 
Surely it was for my benefit
that I suffered.
In Your love you kept me
from the pit of destruction.
You have put all my sins
behind Your back.

Oh how He loves.

Thomas & Stone

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