Embracing the Cross

31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. 34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”(Mark 8:31-38)

Peter is so much like me. We love the Lord, yet we still yearn for our own way most days. We learn the hard way. We have to be corrected often. Yet when we finally get it . . . well, we get it! Through the ups and downs of my walk with Christ, He has had to bring me in line many times. I too act on emotion a lot. However, as I learn what the Lord wants from me and finally do take up that cross, I take it up fully and carry it as far as I am able. So many take Jesus lightly. Well, He surely did not take me lightly when He bore the slander, the beatings, and the cross! I am NOT ashamed to be a Christ-follower and I have lost much since deciding to follow Him closely . . . but what I have found . . . WHOM I have found is so much more enjoyable!!!! What about you? Do you know Jesus? Have you too embraced the cross?