Through Thick & Thin – Newday-Prince

Through Thick & Thin:

Howdy friend,

Take up your cross and follow Me.

Then Jesus told them what they could expect for themselves: Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead.

You’re not in the driver’s seat-I am.

Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow Me and I’ll show you how.

Self-help is no help at all.

Self-sacrifice is the way, My way, to finding yourself, your true self.

Friend, one reason for writing these weekly thoughts, is to get the message across in a clear and precise way.

But here and now, this particular thought is to challenge and encourage folks to realise that one can be a believer without carrying a cross, but one cannot be a follower!

All the same, it’s interesting when some folks see the “cross” as a load they must carry in their lives.

For instance, a bereavement, a physical illness, an estranged relationship, an irksome job, and so on!!

Consequently, as a result of such stress, these folks become fully submerged in a pity party, often saying with pride: That’s my cross I have to carry.

But wait!

Jesus could not carry His cross – and neither can we!

So what does it really mean to “take up your cross and follow Me?”

Jesus said: If you don’t go all the way with Me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve Me.

If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself.

But if you forget about yourself and look to Me, you’ll find both yourself and Me.

That’s it!

Jesus is asking us to say no to ourselves.

This means to accept our inability to carry any cross in our own strength.

But hey, ho!

We’re not on our own!

Remember, without Him, we will accomplish nothing!

But, His grace is enough to cover and sustain us.

His power is made perfect in weakness!

It’s when we fully understand this, knowing that Jesus is wanting to help us through thick and thin – then we begin to learn how to follow Him.

In light of this, we develop a fresh understanding of the meaning of take up your cross and follow Me.

It’s a call to absolute surrender.

Selfishness makes way for selflessness!

Paul Oakley, the contemporary worship song-writer grasped a little of this when he wrote:

It’s all about You, Jesus; And all this is for You, For Your glory and Your fame. It’s not about me; As if You should do things my way, You alone are God and I surrender.

Friend, if you forget about yourself and look to Jesus, you’ll find both yourself and Him.

Oh, yes!

David Prince: Full-time Husband To Rachel – Writer Of Stuff – Receiver Of Grace – Drinker Of Tea – & Hearty Neighbour.

Meet David.

Meet Rachel.

Committed to loving God and loving people.

If this message has encouraged you in your own spiritual journey, please click the recommend button found before this post.

Thank you.

E-mail david@newday-prince.me.uk.