Living Crosswise
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9: 23).
On the day Jesus spoke these words, everybody knew what Jesus meant. In the Roman world, before a man died on a cross, he had to carry his cross (or at least the horizontal beam of the cross) to the place of execution. Therefore, He was speaking of an ongoing process. That process being a consistent lifestyle commensurate with His. To deny yourself is to live as an others-centered person. That one being Jesus. That prompts us to pray with heart “not my will, but thy will be done.”
Jesus made it clear that He was not speaking on this occasion of physical death, but spiritual by adding the word “daily.” No one could be crucified physically everyday. However, they could daily have the same attitude that Jesus had.
That is, to live as expressed in an old hymn by B. B McKinney entitled “Let Others See Jesus in You:”
“While passing through this world of sin,
And others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within,
Let others see Jesus in you.”
An appeal resulting in fulfillment is found in this: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12: 1, 2).
When your life is a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,” it is a fulfilling and rewarding life.
Albert Schweitzer, a man of some note, observed, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others. Only then have we ourselves become true human beings.
I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among us who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.”
Schweitzer’s observation reaches new heights when tweaked to indicate life is most meaningful and fulfilling when it is Jesus we seek to serve. We may serve others, but it should be done in Jesus. name and by His enabling grace.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Worthwhile people don’t just happen. You aren’t born worthwhile. You are born with the capacity to be worthwhile. It is your job to discover and develop the person you ought to be.” The person you ought to be is the you willfully and joyfully bearing your cross daily. Start today.