fresh look on an old command...

In learning about and questioning what “incarnational” ministry means, I began to ponder exactly how we can love others with the same love Christ did? Since Jesus love often means meeting people at their greatest need, my initial question leads me to another: what is a person’s greatest need? Of course it will be individualized for each one in need, but meeting said need should be our number one priority as we “love our neighbor.”

In thinking about the connectivity of the command to take up one’s cross and follow Christ, it seems that, like most of Jesus teachings, there is a call to social action. I began to think that maybe we need not take up our own cross – that has already been done. Jesus didn’t take his cross to the top of the hill that day. He took mine. Praise God that I don’t have to take that cross for myself, seeing as I most certainly couldn’t’ do it. Thus, could “my cross” be the burdens of the people in my world? It seems probable because Jesus calls us to practical, selfless love that follows his example.

So then, how do I respond to this command – do I even have a cross to carry? Of course, though by cross I don’t mean we purchase salvation for others. But instead – we carry their burdens by forgetting ourselves and taking up their greatest need. Jesus took up our most primary need, the need for a savior. And - He alone could carry it. So, what is the greatest need that we can meet for others? How can we practically meet the needs of those around us? We must begin somewhere…

How bout we follow the life of Christ: since Jesus bearing of our cross required his life and death, what about loving others requires something of us? Our salvation cost Jesus everything. For us, what is the cost? If we are to take up our cross daily, it must not always require our death, so we must be required to die to parts of ourselves in order to love others effectively. Do we need to lay down our pride in a given situation? Is God asking us to let go of our money? Would Jesus dare call us to forgive first, then love out of our bankruptcy? Could the Holy Spirit be prompting us to give up our right to personal time or pleasure in order that someone else might be relieved of their burden?

Dying to ourselves daily by carrying others' burdens points people towards the One who will carry their ultimate burden, Jesus himself.

Follow Christ up the hill as he carries your cross.

Who’s crosses will we pick up each day as we follow the Him along the Way?