Beautiful Word Devotional #286

“Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 14:27

What does it mean to carry your cross?

First of all, a literal cross was a brutal instrument of torture and death that destroyed anyone nailed to it. So to carry your cross is to completely die to yourself, to no longer be the same person.

So what—metaphorically speaking—is a cross we are to carry? When we die to what we want and instead follow God’s will, we are carrying our cross. When we depend on God rather than strive for self-sufficiency, when we obey God rather than go our own way, when we follow Jesus and confess our faith in him no matter what doing so costs us, we are carrying our cross.

No matter what cross you bear today, remember this: Jesus carried his own cross, and he can empower you to carry yours.

Lord, thank you that you will help me carry my cross. I do need your help as you use my cross to make me more like Jesus, amen.