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If it is the cross you bear and are crucified; any other earthly condition will be contentment. Your hope is not in any other; any thing; any praise; any gift; any comfort; other than the cross upon which He died and your cross which He found you worthy to bear. Once content with your cross, the temporal fades. A worthiness of the cross is an invitation to  know Him; the power of His resurrection; the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and attain to His resurrection. Their is no nobler way; none more excellent. Even our Lord said,  "he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." If by the cross we know Him; are worthy of Him; learn of Him; grow in Him, and at long last rest in Him, then hurry to your cross and gladly bear it. The burdens in this present world are grievous but have you heard of the suffering in ages past?  Hebrews 11  tells of those who endured the pains of epic trials. They were consid

Do you know that you belong to Him? Do you know that you know? Then there will be a cross. To not have a cross means you are none of His. What does it say? "to be my disciple...take up your cross and follow me?" The cross is there for every follower of Him. Why must I suffer? Most avoid an answer or offer a pious pass to the question; but the cross will answer it ! Why not suffer? He suffered for you;  nailing our sin to the cross.  Compared to the cross He bore for us... our burden is light and momentary; achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. You have endured the pains of the cross already but in ignorance. Without the knowledge of your cross and the summons to carry it you laden your load all the more. Laboring in circles you blindly; angrily; pitifully suffer. What did He first say the disciple must do? Take up your cross? No...first you must deny yourself. Self is an enemy of the cross; deceiving; denying. It must be dealt with. Only

Seek no relief from the cross. Are you bound to it? Seek not to be loosed, for the Cyrene has already been assigned to you. In the hour of need God will provide him. Desire only to set your heart like a flint toward His righteousness. Reprieve is in the shadow of His wings. Succumb not to the temptation of resentment for the cross. God is faithful. He will, with the temptation, also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it. His right hand will uphold you. Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall. Look not upon thyself; it has been sacrificed; look outward. Behold...He makes all things new. Can you see it, the world around you? Look how different they all appear? Like water from Siloam, the cross has restored your sight. Love for them cries out...in newness of your heart, compassionate, weeping. The scales of sin and self had blinded your eyes. You see them now, the masses, huddled, harassed, sheep without a shephe