—Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.—Mark 8:34
Throughout the Christian’s journey there are many crosses and losses. Although it ends in great gain it is a rough road. We are confronted by and subjected to things we wouldn’t choose for ourselves, yet One wiser than we sends or allows them. He does so for our good and His glory. Although burdened by it we are better for it.
Alexander Smellie wrote, “—never is Jesus so near to me as when I lift my cross, and lay it submissively on my shoulders, and give it the welcome of a patient and unmurmuring spirit. He draws close—
— to ripen my wisdom,
— to deepen my peace,
— to increase my courage;
— to augment my graces,
through the very experience which is so grievous and distressing. And then, I grow close to Jesus under the load.”
“Closer to Jesus”—isn’t that what we want? Is that not what we need? But for that to happen we must be subjected to things that are painful and hard to bear. We are never closer to the Lord than when we are clinging to Him for survival. Knowing we can’t make it without Him forces us to seek His face and trust His grace. It is then that our trials turn to treasures. Our losses become a crown when it brings us “closer to Jesus”.
The cross of which our Lord speaks does not refer to the troubles common to man. It has to do with the hardships we encounter as a result of following Christ. We are never excused from duty due to difficulty. And we never fail to gain when we give all to follow Christ. Like the old song says, “It pays to serve Jesus!”
