24/10/09

Soldier carry your CROSS

2 Timothy 2:2,3 - And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.


When Jesus told the rich man to carry the CROSS, He told him 'carry the CROSS and follow me' and 'take up his CROSS, and follow me'. Jesus did not say 'carry my cross or take up my cross and follow me'.

The Greek word used for CROSS is 'stauros', which comes from the root word 'histemi' which means 'cause'.

If one does really understand the CROSS which Jesus referred to and is given more detailed in the Old Testament than the New Testament (although manifested in the life of Jesus yet difficult to understand), it has a unique part for each one of us as well as a common part.

Of the CROSS the unique part is the personal mission which each one of us is given. The common part is that the whole of mankind has a CAUSE by which we will have victory over sinful nature (the nature which entered man through Adam) and get us our inheritance in the LORD. The two compounding factors of the CROSS which we need to carry are, understanding of the Word and testimonies. Although the testimonies of each individual are principally to understand the Word, yet they need to be carried along with, so as to reconfirm the Word. This is also the reason why in the composition of the various books of the Bible, we have books like Chronicles, Kings, Acts, Proverbs, Job etc...

We need to carry it until the understanding of the Word and testimony is complete is us.

To carry the CROSS one needs to be faithful and strong, committed to the purpose while enduring all things; battle ready so as to stain as long as possible in this spiritual warzone. Getting others ready for the battle and handing over charge unto them.

To carry this heavy spiritual load one needs to be very light in the flesh. This was the reason why Jesus told the rich man give away all his riches and follow Him. Jesus knew the rich man although lived a good life yet was carrying his richness in him and therefore would not survive much in the spiritual warfare.

Now who wants to be rich or who wants to be a disciple?

It is not that the disciple will lack, God assure us that all the needs will be met. Also being rich does not mean having riches but knowing that one has riches.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord God, we thank You for your Son Jesus Christ, Who become a living sacrifice for us by showing us a perfect way of carrying our CROSS. Our CROSS is not heavy as His, but even then He gave us His Spirit to help us in carrying our CROSS so that we endure till the end. Lord God, reveal the magnificent CROSS and its power unto your people, that they may one day effortless defeat the plans of the enemy by yielding true power and authority...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Mark 10:21-22
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Matthew 16:24-25
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others.
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