Take up your cross
If I were to say now come take up this cross and place it on this table, it just might stay there in this very place until the end of the service, unless of course one of the church wardens removes it, or Barbara moves it out of the way.
It’s not often a priest will make such a request of a congregation, what request? Well, will someone please take up this cross and place it on this table?
By now some of your hearts will begin pounding, because you know what it required, it’s just that you’d much rather it was someone else than you. You know what has to be done, and if you don’t do it, it might not get done.
But you remain glued to your chair, because you don’t want to draw attention to your self, you might fall or slide or drop the cross, and make a fool of yourself, worse than that your family and friends might talk about you behind your back and have a good laugh at your expense…..
So is there anyone who will pick up this cross and place it on this table please?
It takes COURAGE to actually come to a church requesting baptism for a child…to even approach a priest you don’t know, in a place you may not have even been in before.
I think it takes even more courage to come for yourself.
It’s fine to ask on behalf of a baby, but what about me?
You might very well be thinking right now…
I would like to be a committed Christian…but I’m scared to ask and draw attention to myself
I would like to come more regularly to church, but the building will fall down, and besides people will stare at me…I don’t know anyone, so no-one will speak to me and make me welcome.
I’d like to have a close relationship with God, but he may not want the likes of me…
How much courage have you really got?
Jesus said:-
“If anyone wants to be followers of mine, they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.”
Yes it takes courage, yes the heart will pound, yes we know what we should do and we don’t… but that feeling of satisfaction and joy when we make that first step towards God, to speak to him, to know him, and give our lives to him is one we will never regret.
Who else speaks words of eternal life?
If we wanted what was best for a child of ours, we would move heaven and earth to get it wouldn’t we? Why then do we not do this for ourselves?
Jesus continues:-
“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world……but forfeit their life?”
All God wants is our Yes!
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
I’m sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask your forgiveness and now turn from everything, which I know is wrong.
Thank you for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins.
Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit, and be with me forever.
Amen