Do I have to carry a cross?

Then he said to them all:

 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." 

Luke 9:23

Jesus teaches a lot about discipleship in this very short verse. He teaches that if we want to be able to CONSIDER ourselves his disciples we MUST first learn to carry our cross. But what does this mean...to carry a cross? To "carry a cross" means to learn be a disciple through the public demonstration of our: commitment, endurance, accountability, determination, responsibility, ownership, love, humility, effort and constant perseverance in the pursuit of Christ and his Will over our lives. When I say that I will pick my cross daily and follow him, what I mean is, I am willing to put my earthly/carnal desires behind to be able to follow what God wants for my life. I am willing to withstand, to fight, to be uncomfortable, in order that the kingdom of Christ might move onward. I mean that I humbly declare to the world on a daily basis that I understand that I am less than and that He is Greater than...that I am the servant and that He is the king.

Brothers and sisters in Christ...let us learn to carry our testimony proudly, to carry our values proudly, to carry our love for Christ proudly for all to see. 

Beautiful church of Christ, pick up your cross and follow Him.

Until we meet again...Be Salt & Be Light to the world