READ: Ephesians 2:1-22
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” – Galatians 6:14
Why you must take up your cross. Which cross are we talking about? Your cross or His cross? Well, we are talking about both. We are talking about the cross of Jesus Christ and the effect that it has had on the world. We are deducing therefore that your cross will also have a great effect on the world.
The cross is a symbol of something that both Jesus and His followers partake of. Jesus told His followers to take up their crosses. This extends the experience of the cross from Christ alone to His followers. Because the experience of the cross is extended to Jesus’ followers the powers that the cross releases are also extended to the followers who take up their crosses.
You must take up your cross because the cross has the power to put away sins. “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people…” (Hebrews 9:27-28, NIV).
When someone makes great sacrifices, his flaws seem to fade away. When Christians make great sacrifices for the Lord’s work, people tend to ignore their weaknesses. Everyone knows you are an imperfect being. But when you make sacrifices for the Lord, these sacrifices stand out and minimise your imperfections. The cross of Jesus Christ took away the sins of the whole world. Similarly, your great sacrifices for the Lord will cause your sins and weaknesses to become insignificant in comparison to what you have done for the Lord.