We live by faith, not by sight. We love because He first loved us.
Galatians 2:20 (ESV) – I have been crucified with Christ. No longer I live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved and gave himself for me.
Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV) – “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword, for I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Vincent’s Word Studies says what is on my mind with Galatians and Matthew.
His cross (τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ)
“This was no Jewish proverb, crucifixion not being a Jewish punishment; so that Jesus uses the phrase anticompetitively, in view of the death which he himself was to die. This was one of those sayings described in John 12:16, which the disciples understood not at the first, but the meaning of which was revealed in the light of later events. The figure itself was borrowed from the practice which compelled criminals to bear their own cross to the place of execution. His cross: his own. All are not alike. There are different crosses for different disciples. The English proverb runs: “Every cross hath its inscription” – the name of him for whom it is shaped.”
Throughout our lifetime, we will encounter many trials that we must endure. The trials one faces in life are like a customized cross tailored to each individual’s specific needs and challenges. In the book of Galatians, Paul employs powerful imagery to illustrate his faith. He draws a parallel between his crucifixion with Christ and the thief on the cross beside Jesus. He delves deeper into the concept of resurrection by boldly proclaiming that he no longer lives, but Christ dwells within him. In this significant moment, it is incumbent upon everyone who professes our faith in Jesus to take a moment of self-reflection, evaluating our behaviors to find out if we are indeed in agreement with Paul and that we are sincerely living out our faith in Christ.
Every trial that takes place throughout our life is a cross we carry. We can decide to carry our cross and overcome the trial and pass the test, or we can drop the cross and continue in the trial. Our examples are many. We can look at what Jesus did for us. We can read how the apostles carried their cross through all the trials for Christ and, ultimately, each of us. Job is a book of faith and trust in God, but it also reveals how life will be for those who trust in Jesus.
There is no better example today when we witness a person accepting Jesus as the Messiah. The inexplicable joy of the new believer in Christ Jesus as all their past sins are washed away, the unaware cross they were carrying through life was suddenly taken by Jesus to bear. Now, the new believer will live a life similar to Job. There will be trials of all sorts as the enemy attacks, and each is a personal cross that the new believer must bear. Each new believer will either trust in Jesus or they will trust in themselves. Each new believer will stand in the faith and echo the words of Paul in Galatians 2:20, or, if they decide to face life’s trials alone, there will be disappointment one after the other. The enemy will attempt to trick, deceive, persuade, and pull every stunt to keep a new believer away from trusting in God as Job and many others.
These trials have significance for new believers and those who have already professed their faith in Christ Jesus, as they test one’s commitment and resolve. Each and every one of us faces challenges in life, and the important thing to contemplate is how we can overcome these obstacles and reach the finish line. In 1 Peter 1:13, a hint is provided about how we should approach life. The verse encourages us to prepare our minds for action, to maintain a sober spirit, and to place our hope entirely on the grace that will be revealed to us when Jesus Christ returns.
Have you decided on which one you prefer? You must decide whether to embrace the challenge and stand with Paul by picking up your cross of trials or decline the opportunity. It’s a big question to answer. The human condition is such that we possess vulnerabilities and imperfections, as we are all inherently sinful beings. There will be times when we will falter in our endeavors. If we are not careful, there is a possibility that we might fall into a ditch and end up losing our way. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus and identify as one of His followers, He will never forsake you. Find yourself in a difficult situation. Jesus will come to your aid, helping you out of the ditch and graciously offering to carry your dropped cross until you are ready to shoulder your cross of trials and endure, always remembering that God’s grace is more than enough.
Let’s face it; none of us is perfect, and we will not be perfect in this physical world. Each of us has issues of one sort or another. As followers of Christ, we must learn to pick up our cross daily and admit to ourselves and God that we need His help. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Learning what picking up our cross daily means and what it involves is difficult. Jesus again tells us in Luke 9:23, “Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” So how about it? If we claim to be a believer and a follower of Jesus, don’t you think we should accept our trials, place them on our cross, and follow Jesus?
The decision is yours. Today is the day to decide whether you are prepared to follow Jesus wholeheartedly until the moment you are called to be with Him or until He returns to establish His kingdom on earth.
Are you worthy of Him? I am convinced that you are, and I know in my heart that Jesus also shares this conviction. In our journey of representing Jesus, we are fortunate to have the holy spirit with us, providing guidance and teaching us along the way. Discovering the most effective ways to communicate the gospel can affect the lives of those who hear it. In a world that often lacks godliness, living a life guided by faith is challenging. However, there are ways in which one can navigate this godless world and still lead a godly life, provided we listen to the holy spirit and not our own.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
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