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The gospel that saves; the gospel we believe and profess is inconceivable without the cross. The cross of our redeemer, the crucifix of the apostles; the patriarchs; the early church; missionaries; translators; all rest beneath our feet as a sure foundation with our overseer as the chief cornerstone. The cross road marked before you is rich with the blood stains of holy men and women of God who through the ages counted the cost and chose to give up what they could not keep to gain what they could not lose. May the same God who gave them endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, As citizens of heaven; one day; at long last we will see the worthy lamb that was slain. Until then, for His sake we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. When you bear you cross gladly; joyously; faithful...

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; learn of Him; grow in Him, and at long last rest, 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 considered champions of the cross......

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 the...

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; look outward. Behold...He makes all things new. See the world around you; how different they all appear? Love for them cries out...in newness of your heart; compassionate; weeping. Like scales fallen from your eyes; you see the masses; sheep without a shepherd. They see you too; crucified with Christ; faithful; a city on a hill. Shining like a star; piercing the darkness; for it is God..at work...in you......

Have you taken up your cross? Tell me about it. Describe it to me. Where did you find it? In physical pain; through family or relationship; loss; in occupation; through impediment; ruin of security; poverty; weakness of your flesh; in persecution? How big is God...to you? Multiply that to an infinite number and you describe Him closer than your original thought. His love for you is equally infinite and matchless. I cannot define or describe how; only why. His charity is unceasing toward you. The cross is His way; the way to paradise; to glory. It hurts; but it hurts like heaven. "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) Sin has met it's match in the cross. It 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. Oh how He loves...

No one understands the passion of Christ so thoroughly or heartily as the man whose lot it is to suffer the like himself. The cross, therefore, is always ready; it awaits you everywhere. No matter where you may go, you cannot escape it, for wherever you go you take yourself with you and shall always find yourself. Turn where you will—above, below, without, or within—you will find a cross in everything, and everywhere you must have patience if you would have peace within and merit an eternal crown.                                                - Thomas A Kempis                                 ...

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Their is no brightness or cheer in taking up your cross and following Christ. The cross is or was an instrument of punishment and death. It is not likely that any would happily reach a hand to bear it; but our Savior did; and so should we. Why?  Following Him is the way of discipleship. Christ leads us into "the way everlasting". This life is marked with passion, testing, and surrender. Our redeemer even learned obedience as He...for our joy...endured the cross Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered The suffering that is borne in bearing ones cross serves as a check to the impulses and temp...