Paul B Thomas This post has already been read 197 times!
The cross. Great things are not performed by the clever, but those that carry something others are unable to bear. Those with knowledge inform a world. Those with a cross make it stand up and take notice!
Jesus, was mocked, forsaken of by the brethren, denied by his closest friend, labelled a heretic, then……… he took up his cross.
At a point when most of us would have quit the ministry he took it on. At the point of enough is enough he went the one step further. At the point when it all fell apart, he took up his cross. At the point of disqualification, in the sight of religious elite, he qualified in the sight of the one true God! Taking your cross. It’s what you do when the crowd says, you’re not supposed to carry on!
The Lord tells us something the crowd don’t understand, he tells us,
“To him that overcomes is granted a crown of life.”
This means only those who conquer the tuff stuff can wear this type of crown. Only those who can preach the God kind of truth, the tuff stuff, the truth about his name, can carry this type of cross. Only those know that they have to live with ridicule, a past, a label, maybe a divorce, a big failure, a bad reputation can carry this type of cross, because their experience , their testimony is what they bear, its their cross and a man cannot separate himself from that which he bears. Never!. Your cross is what you bear when all others pour out scorn and call “shame.” yes that’s the reality of many lives today, but until you get to a point of persecution, a point of deep agony to you, you can’t really claim to be bearing a cross!
Cowards don’t carry a cross, they love popularity too much! Only kings carry a cross, that’s how you recognise them. They carry something others don’t,…
….they carry a cross and a crown, a Joy and a burden, a responsibility and a celebration. Its called “light.” Others see it on you, but what they don’t know is that to live like a king you have to carry your cross.
Fight the good fight with all thy might;
Christ is thy Strength, and Christ thy Right;
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.
Run the straight race through God’s good grace,
Lift up thine eyes, and seek His face;
Life with its way before us lies,
Christ is the Path, and Christ the Prize. (John S B Monsell)
Stay preaching..when its inconvenient to you and uncomfortable to others…. for then and only then you’ve found your crown, its called LIFE
Only those who bear a cross, wear a crown.
That’s LIFE!
Paul…
Thank you my brother, you are right, there is a big diference between the two. One I guess denies ones self the other, exalts it, wouldnt you say?… many thanks for visiting… I’m encouraged.
“Awesome,” “Insightful,” and “Passionate.” These are the words that come to mind as I read your post/commentary. This is a revolutionary concept in this pleasure-driven, self-serving, materialistic world of contemporary Christendom.Thanks for the Word! I will share this on FaceBook.
As He learned obedienec by what He suffered so will we, Halelujah Jesus!
So true! Only those who bear the cross can where the crown. Most believers act like they are carrying a cross but they are carrying their own sorrows and the weight of the world. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light. So let’s carry our cross and follow after Him. After all He wore it. So can we… Amen! Great word for today.
WOW! I feel this way a lot! I carry the burdens of others! One of my spiritual gifts is mercy and the other is a giver. Boy do I have at it in life. But I can not complain as each experience makes me richer in Him, our Lord and Savior. It’s time for people of God to stop being cowards and “take up the cross.”
Preaching Christ crucified never gets old, never loses power or the efectivness to bring hope to the lost. As we bear our cross we will always be refreshed and in the presence of God. This touched my heart becuase in a world that is seeking comfort in distraction and comfort we know we are not alone as cross carryers and image breakers, becuase Jesus is with us everystep of the way teaching us from His experience of perserverance. Amen Brother!