Being a Christian doesn't mean we don't still have troubles. Even in following Jesus we will have our share of problems, sometimes because we follow Jesus. The quote goes "we all have our crosses to bear." Jesus even said to follow him we must "take up our cross and follow him." But that doesn't mean we have to bear our cross alone.The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke all share the story of when Jesus was carrying His own cross to be crucified. When Jesus was no longer able to carry His cross, Simon of Cyrene carried it for Him. Now truthfully, Simon wasn't really a volunteer in this effort. He was forced to do it. But none-the-less, he came up beside Jesus and carried Jesus' cross.
When we look around the Christian community, we may see a lot of folks struggling to carry their own crosses. It is our job (whether we want to or not) to come up beside them and help them carry their cross.
Be a Simon of Cyrene. Help someone carry their cross today.
Matthew 10:37-39 -- "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."
Matthew 16:24 -- Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Luke 23:26 -- As they led him {Jesus} away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
This post was inspired by the testimony of a woman in my church.
18 comments:
Great post!
Love Collette x
Hi, Kelly!
Great post. Reminded me of this scripture:
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galations 6:2
Whooeeeee....you'll be in PA! :) Can wait to hear all about the writer's conference.
Hugs to you!
This is a wonderful reminder, Kelly. It's not always in our plans or sometimes conventient to "carry the cross" of Jesus for those around us. But we are called to be unselfish,giving and to show unconditional love to others even if it doesn't fit into our day timers. Thanks for this post!!
Hugs,
Susan
How is that I signed in to follow you, and it said "OK," like I had not done this yet? I don't get it. This has happened to me twice this week. Now I'll have to check everyone's site to make sure.
Anyway, great inspirational post. I hope the writing opportunities work out.
Awesome! Love and prayers, andrea
Excellent words.
Great point Kelly. We all need to pick up the slack some and do more than our share.
Thank you for this Kelly:)
Encouraged today to look for ways to help!
Kelly,
How true that our call as Christians is to love one another, to encourage and build each other up. I think of the times I've selfishly watched someone "carry their cross" while I offered encouragement from the sidelines.
Thanks for this reminder to get in there.
Happy Friday!
Amen Kelly!! Love this!
Thanks for raising up one of those unsung folks in the Bible. Everyone is in the Book for a reason, and we all learn when we can see someone like Simon of Cyrene, and think about our "being forced" to help carry someone else's cross.
This is actually one of those very hard passages for me, because the Cross was never meant to represent any simple burden, as if inconveniences were all that big of a deal. The Cross is for death, a violent, torturous, sadistic death at that. And, praise be to God, it's the reassurance that human beings really were made for eternal life! Extreme risks lead to extreme benefits? Hmm? "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."
What's he calling us to give up for our friends? Our lives. Total sacrifice. The whole kit and kaboodle, whatever a kaboodle is. He's asking for everything, which, frankly, is nothing less than the example He set for us anyway, so at least we have a pattern to follow.
That passage in Mt. 10 always blows me away. Jesus SAID "take up your cross." He SAID it.
No, think about that for a second. Wait... HE. Said. It!
Like...how'd he know??
Anyone who heard him say it would have filed it away somewhere in the back of their minds. ...Until they saw the awesome brutality that he was setting an example for.
They KNEW what He was talking about. They KNEW what a cross was. I'm sure it seemed a rather brutal and uncomfortable image to them at that moment. But I sincerely doubt that they got it until they saw a few years later that He MEANT it. I mean, He REALLY meant it! (Like, the chicken is involved in breakfast, but the pig is committed.)
He said "CROSS," as if He was whispering, "Please standby. Watch this. And now for My next trick..."
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ? What is the *law* of Christ? "A new Commandment I give you: LOVE ONE ANOTHER" [uhm...emphasis mine...perhaps]. And what is the greatest act of love?
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
The greatest act of friendship and love is to take up another's Cross. And die.
It's a high calling.
I'm not sure I want it. But I hear it's worth the investment.
Your words, "When we look around the Christian community, we may see a lot of folks struggling to carry their own crosses. It is our job (whether we want to or not) to come up beside them and help them carry their cross."
How true that is.
Praying also for you dear one.
=) Very inspirational. Thanks, Kelly!
Hey there! I just stopped by to see your blog. Looks great. I love the Rocky Balboa quote you left- I saw the movie and think about that lots. Look forward to getting to talk with you and Sonya more on the drive!
I like this. Luckily that is one of my spiritual gifts. Empathy, servant, etc.
Now if I could only let others help me carry my cross. Although it is no where as heavy as Jesus', It is still very heavy at times.
Take care.
A great reminder, Kelly. There seems to be a misconception that Christians don't suffer, and that if you are, then there's something wrong with your faith. That's just not true. We're here to help people, as many as we can, and not just to take up our own cross but to help others bear their own.
Great post!
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