What are you carrying today? Is it something that was unexpected and you have not been able to refuse it, you could do nothing about it, it seemed it was chosen for you. Some would say it was fate and an unlucky roll of the dice. However you describe it, one day you woke up and your life changed forever.
“As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.” (Matthew 27 v 32)
He was from what we know as Libya and the reason for being in Jerusalem was the same as all the others in this crowded city, the Passover celebration.
The flagellation of Jesus had been too much. The soldiers were concerned that Jesus would die before they got to the execution site. Pilate had ordered the crucifixion and now they were close to not carrying out these instructions. This was no willing volunteer, this was a man seized from the crowd, in the wrong place at the wrong time and there was nothing he could do but carry the cross behind Jesus.
Simon was forced. How may he have reacted do you think at that?
I can’t do this. I don’t want to do this.
But 2,000 years later we are in admiration for what he did.
You may have many questions revealing your deep reluctance and anxiety. However the world is watching. How will you do? What will you say?
Will your family be able to say when you are long gone, ‘they carried the cross of Jesus’?
“Even when it was really tough they surrendered their life to follow Jesus.”
What is the cross for you today that you are carrying? Luke says “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27). How you carry it impacts and inspires those who are watching you. You can change lives by carrying your cross. Make sure you carry it well.
Missions Paul 