Follow Me.

     "Take up your cross and follow me." Have you ever really stopped to think about what this means? I did recently and a few things stuck me. First, what does it mean to take up your cross?

     To me the fact that we are to "take up our cross" implies it is a voluntary act. We need to take the initiative to take it up, it isn't placed upon us. The cross isn't some burden that we have to live with, it is some task that we need to complete, or some job that we need to do.

     Next Jesus tells us that we need to follow Him. The word follow He used means to take the same road. Jesus  tells us to take the same road He is. We need to walk the same road He did and that road leads to Calvary. Jesus wants us to take up our cross and take it to Calvary.

     So, we are to willingly take up the task placed before us and carry it all the way to Calvary, to completion. We have to take up our cross and follow Him, not take up our cross and wait for Him. This whole verse is about moving forward toward the cross of Jesus.

     So what is it that Jesus has laid before you that you need to carry on your way to Calvary? There is some task, some ministry opportunity, some person that you are being called to take up; will you take it up and walk the road to Calvary behind Jesus?

Tight Rope

     It is an old story. Several of you may have heard it before, but here it is again. A tight rope walker had his wire stretched over Niagara Falls. As the awestruck crowd watched, he easily crossed and then crossed back. Upon returning he got a wheelbarrow and duplicated the feat.

    The crowd cheered wildly. The performer then asked the crowd, "How many of you believe I can do this with a person in the wheelbarrow?" The entire crowd raised their hands. Then he asked, "Who will volunteer to ride in the wheelbarrow?" The response this time was not as enthusiastic, in fact nobody raised their hand. You see belief and faith are two different things. Everyone believed he could do it, no one had faith that he could.

     Jesus asks that we have faith in Him, not just belief. For as James said, even the demons believe in Jesus, we must go further. Jesus calls us to step out of the boat, get off of the sidelines, get into that wheelbarrow.

     Do you believe in Jesus or do you have faith in Jesus?

The Lord is My Shepherd

     "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want." How often have I read that without really thinking about it? The man who penned this had been a shepherd himself so I don't think he chose the words lightly. So let's look at that word--- shepherd.

     In David's time the shepherd meant life to the sheep. He was the source for all their needs. He guided them to food and water. He provided shelter when necessary. When enemies attacked, he stood in their defense. The shepherd even had to forsake his own family, shelter, and comfort to live in the fields with his sheep. David was willing to live amongst his sheep to ensure their safety. Our Shepherd was willing to leave the security of heaven to live as one of His flock to ensure their, our, eternal safety.

     "The Lord is my shepherd..." What a powerful message that is all by itself, but David continues, "...I shall not want." Ask anyone for a list of everything they want and you will receive a very long list. It is human nature to want more than you have. Once you get one, you want two, you get two and you want four, and on and on it goes. But the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. The Lord, who spoke all of creation into existence, is my shepherd and He will provide for His sheep.

     If you are experiencing want, take a moment to evaluate yourself spiritually. Is the Lord truly your shepherd?