Are You Willing?

I’ve heard some Christians say that ‘taking up our cross’ means we have some heavy burden to bear daily… that’s worldly wisdom to me.  Jesus miracle of feeding the 5000 had just taken place, and now alone with His disciples, He asked them “Who do the multitudes say I am?”  They responded ‘some say John the Baptist, others Elijah and some say you’re a prophet of old risen again.’  Then Jesus said, “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter’s response “You are the Christ of God!”  He warned them and told them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”  This all led up to the verses in my photo.  Do you think that the disciples at this time knew what Jesus was even saying to them?  After all, they just boldly proclaimed and understood who He was.  When Jesus went to the Garden to pray before His betrayal, He praying fervently, in much agony, to the point His sweat was as blood when it fell to the ground. He prayed “Father, if Thou are willing remove this cup from Me; but not My will, but Thy will be done”. Jesus Christ knowing not only the physical pain, but the emotional and mental anguish He would suffer as well; chose to do the Father’s will.  Our daily cross to bear— surrender ourselves to our Savior and Lord, just as He said to the Father “Not my will, but thy will be done.”

 C.S. Lewis said “Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self.”  Praying for all in the Body of Christ… ♥ Streim