Are You Picking up the Cross Daily?

I have always struggled with the scripture regarding taking up the cross daily. When you think about the context of what Jesus was saying, you have to focus on what your life is all about. I, by all means, do not fully understand how this practically works.  We have busy lives. We have things we have to do. We have family matters to take care of. We have a job that keeps us very busy. So, what does this all mean about the cross?

We must be ready in all situations of self-denial and patience with life’s circumstances.  We must live a life of denying ourselves and the contempt of this world that we come face to face with each day. How do we avoid the temptation of indulging ourselves and satisfying our own desires and wants?  These challenges puts us in a state where our human desires may keep us from really wanting to bear the spiritual desires that we should have by being in Christ. Every day we should desire the will of God to be complete in what we do, in whatever our call is regardless of our job/vocation, etc. We will frequently meet with the “crosses that need to be picked up” in our daily journey.  We must pick these up and carry them daily for our the cause of Christ. 

Luke 9:23-27–Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.  “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Please consider this poem by Charles W. Everest:

“Take up thy cross,” the Savior said, “if thou wouldst my disciple be; deny thyself, the world forsake, and humbly follow after me.”