Today we are reminded of how often Jesus spoke to his disciples about the cross that awaited Him. And in speaking of this course for himself, he also invited each of us to join him in the same journey. As written in Mark 8:34, “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
To discuss the depth of meaning in taking up the life of the cross will take innumerable pages. During this Lenten season each of us may set aside time to reflect on how we can begin and its meaning in our personal lives. There have been many who have walked before us who provide examples. The scriptures are also filled with the acts of the saints who battled sin and selfishness to take up the cross. To take up the cross is to die to self, to put our interests to rest to follow Christ. This world in which we live needs a full dose of the life of the cross to overcome all that is tearing it apart. From the individual, to the family, to the churches, and on into our institutions of public life.
I conclude with this reflection from today’s devotional writing. When you gaze upon the sun, it makes everything else dark; when you taste honey, it makes everything else tasteless; so when your soul feeds on Jesus, it takes away the sweetness of all earthly things—praise, pleasure, and fleshly lusts all lose their sweetness. Keep a continued gaze. Run, looking unto Jesus. Look, till the way of salvation by Jesus fills up the whole horizon, so glorious and peace-speaking. Then will the world be crucified to you, and you unto the world.
Rebecca Van Noord and Jessi Strong, eds., 40 Days to the Cross: Reflections from Great Thinkers (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
Lent - Day 2- Take up the Cross
Today we are reminded of how often Jesus spoke to his disciples about the cross that awaited Him. And in speaking of this course for himself, he also invited each of us to join him in the same journey. As written in Mark 8:34, “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
To discuss the depth of meaning in taking up the life of the cross will take innumerable pages. During this Lenten season each of us may set aside time to reflect on how we can begin and its meaning in our personal lives. There have been many who have walked before us who provide examples. The scriptures are also filled with the acts of the saints who battled sin and selfishness to take up the cross. To take up the cross is to die to self, to put our interests to rest to follow Christ. This world in which we live needs a full dose of the life of the cross to overcome all that is tearing it apart. From the individual, to the family, to the churches, and on into our institutions of public life.
I conclude with this reflection from today’s devotional writing. When you gaze upon the sun, it makes everything else dark; when you taste honey, it makes everything else tasteless; so when your soul feeds on Jesus, it takes away the sweetness of all earthly things—praise, pleasure, and fleshly lusts all lose their sweetness. Keep a continued gaze. Run, looking unto Jesus. Look, till the way of salvation by Jesus fills up the whole horizon, so glorious and peace-speaking. Then will the world be crucified to you, and you unto the world.
Rebecca Van Noord and Jessi Strong, eds., 40 Days to the Cross: Reflections from Great Thinkers (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).