“We take up our crosses and never put them down.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 29, 2024
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22, NKJV
The longer we live, the more situations we encounter that test our faith and threaten to pull us to the left or the right, instead of staying the course and walking with steadfast faith toward the kingdom of God. When we are young, either in age or in our faith, it is common that we face relatively few challenges or major crises. Of course, there are exceptions to this generalization, but if I can paint with a broad brush stoke, this is largely the case. However, as time goes on, we encounter the brokenness of our world in countless ways: the unexpected illness and death of a loved one. The loss of a pregnancy. The loss of a job. Heartfelt prayers seemingly go unanswered, leading to a heart that grows cold toward the ways of the Lord.
In Matthew 10, our Lord adds to this list by simply noting the persecution and rejection that often come with a life of allegiance to him and his kingdom. He doesn’t try and sugarcoat it! “You will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (verse 22). And lest we think otherwise, this is not a one-off encounter or a passing situation. He tells us to be courageous and press on in faith because this will require that we endure “to the end.”
It’s relatively easy to hold a 50-pound weight for a few seconds. But to hold that same weight for an hour? Excruciating! It’s similar in our own lives when we encounter trials and difficulties in life. Most of us can bear the weight of this pain for a few days, or even weeks or months, but the thought of a lifetime of struggle is often more than we can possibly bear, at least in our own strength.
When Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow him, it is a journey for the rest of our lives. We take up our crosses and never put them down. We give our lives away in sacrificial love and believe that the Lord is near, even in times of great sorrow or suffering. In the mystery of God’s ways, the way of death is our entry into eternal life, so let us walk courageously and endure to the very end.
Prayer
Father, give us the courage to follow you and endure to the very end through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Take time today to prayerfully ask the Lord to deepen in you your courage and trust in him, no matter what comes your way.
Related Reading
Romans 5:3; Hebrews 10:36; James 1:2-3
Worship Resource
Voices of Lee: No Longer Slaves
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