Recently the following question was raised in one of our men's breakfast and Bible study meetings. “What does it mean to take up your cross?” I think that is is very helpful for all of us to think about this often. I need to constantly ask myself, “am I taking up the cross and following Christ?” How can I answer this question if I don't know what it means.

In short, the cross is an instrument of execution. To bear the cross of Christ is to daily put to death my own will so that I may ever live in and according to God's will. Paul expresses this sentiment perfectly in Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Recently Brother Fairchild and I were traveling down Park blvd and we saw a man walking towards us on the sidewalk carrying a very large cross. Something was written on it but I could read the writing. This reminded me of a story I heard recently of a gentleman who was doing outreach work on Bourbon street in New Orleans during the height of Mardi Gras celebrations.

This was his first night going with others to do the outreach and to his surprise, the pulled a large cross out of a storage room and said “..You ready to go?”. Down Bourbon street they walked as a group singing praises to God and the one in front was carrying the cross. The crowd of drunken fools and reprobates spit on the them all and cursed them and mocked them. The one carrying the cross took the brunt of the abuse. After walking for a while the one carrying the cross looked back at the “newbie” and asked “hey, do you want to carry the cross?” (insert long dramatic pause) What you say? Am I going to carry the cross. Am I willing be cursed, mocked and spit upon by a crowd of depraved fools while holding the obvious symbol of Christ?

This is an extreme situation, to be sure. But place yourself in it. Are you going to carry the cross. In reality, if you or I found ourselves in that situation we have probably established the answer ahead of time. To carry the cross is to put to death my self-will and to conform myself to God's will (Rom. 12:1-2). Do I do this in my life on a daily basis? Many who wear the name Christian, who attend “church” and act religious would do well to ponder this long and hard.

Many of these are willing to follow God as long as it is convenient and doesn't conflict with their traditional ideas of what is means to be a Christian. Often many of these ideas are more about being a “religious church goer” than being Christian.

To carry the cross daily is to die to self daily. To do God's will and not to follow my own selfish will. Easy? Never! Essential? Absolutely!