Anyone who does not carry his cross

Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me

"Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple!" Luke 14:27

The love of Christ, and the supply of His Spirit—enables those who are truly His to take up their cross and to follow Him. But those who are strangers to Christ and His love, fail when the cross lies before them—they will not take it up and carry it. They love their own ease too well, and seek their own pleasure too much—to bear a cross for Christ, and to follow Him under shame and reproach.

Living faith in Christ and His cross, is essential to the endurance of the cross which His followers are called to bear. Our blessed Lord, for the warning of any who are His followers only in profession, declares in the text, that no one can be His disciple who does not carry His cross and come after Him. Faith in Christ crucified begets love to Him, and dependence on Him for grace to take up any cross we are called to bear. Christian, when you shrink from your cross —think of the cross that Jesus bore for you!

"Take up your cross; nor let its weight
  Fill your weak spirit with alarm,
  His strength shall bear your spirit up,
  And brace your heart, and nerve your arm.

"Take up your cross, and follow Christ,
  Nor be in haste to lay it down;
  For he who bears on earth the cross,
  Shall wear in Heaven a glorious crown!"

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