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Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

November 18th, 2007 by David Wallace posted in Christian Living

Sometimes a picture, or in this case “pictures,” can paint a thousands words.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. - Mat 16:24)

How often we complain about the cross we bear but don’t realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot.

Whatever your cross
Whatever your pain
There will always be sunshine after the rain

Perhaps you may stumble
Perhaps even fall
But God is always ready to answer your call

He knows every heartache
Sees every tear
A word from His lips, can calm every fear

Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night
But suddenly vanish, dawn’s early light

The Savior is waiting in Heaven above
To give you His grace, and send you His love

  1. 8 Responses to “Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus”

  2. By Timi Scherp on Mar 2, 2008

    To be sure, bearing the cross we were given is definitely a must, but, I must protest this cartoon. The Lord makes a way for every soul who is ardent. Makes a way for every single person who needs solace. You forget, that each of those people who would cross that trench, would look back, and feel compassion, and that person would know that God’s Love is alive. They would come back for him. Perhaps you could show that?

    Timi

  3. By Roberta on Mar 10, 2008

    The fact that he had examples of others carrying their cross, should have been a testimony to him, that he to can carry his cross. We read In The Bible , that God is a way-maker and a provider and we’re not left out there on our own. He provides us with the strength to carry our own cross moment by monent.

  4. By samanth on Mar 14, 2008

    Wow, this is so encouraging.

    gbu.

  5. By Patrick Nwaokolo on Mar 17, 2008

    It reminded me of all the times we’ve cut corners rather than waiting for God….a bit scary….but thank God for His grace and mercy.

  6. By greg on Mar 19, 2008

    Thank you, Lord.

  7. By Kevin on Mar 21, 2008

    If salvation is based upon our works then it would be terrifing “for all have sinned”, yet if our lak of commitment to making choices to follow Jesus,is depiced like the cartoon, then yes we will fall short every time. I believe that Jesus is stating if you want to follow me it is a no holds bar commitment all the way. Yet thank God that even when we fail in that, we have forgivess in His eternal sacrifice Jesus Christ.

  8. By Ted on Jun 12, 2008

    I guess I am too simplistic, but my take on this cartoon when I first saw it was not that the other side of the chasm was eternal life (but that’s the natural assumption I guess after reading other posts here). Rather, the chasm is one of yet many challenges we have in this early life, and had the character not trimmed off the weight of his cross earlier on, he would have been prepared to take on this larger challenge and move on. I questioned, oh how I questioned, why my wife of 27 years had to suffer a terrible illness and death relatively young. Why did I have to go through this with her as I cared for her. But I think that experience was readying me for further challenges I can already see in the here and now. In my view, the little guy would have to retrace his steps, go back, and bridge this problem in a different, more difficult way.

  9. By Daniel Richard | WE on Jun 13, 2008

    Hi David!

    I’ve seen the flash version of this on a Korean site before sometime in early 07. It’s a beautiful clip played to a nice music.

    It certainly inspired myself to live a life not discounted off what Jesus and the works of the Cross (carrying the cross) had done for me.

    Thanks for sharing this. :)

    Daniel

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