Take Up Your Cross

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:38-39 

Meditate. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

 

Take up your cross. We must expect trials—and follow Jesus’ example. Grin and bear the suffering. You aren’t going through it alone, since Jesus promised that He will never abandon or forsake us. Jesus Christ has shown us the way to deal with enemies, trials, disappointments, and discouragement. Take up our cross and follow Him. Don’t abandon Jesus when things get tough, or only look to Him when you have trials. Bearing our cross daily means carrying the load to the feet of Jesus—our joys and sorrows.

If we deny Jesus, we lose our eternal life. But as Jesus told His disciples, if we give up our lives—our earthly desires, we find the eternal life in Jesus Christ that is precious.

Sounds simple. All it takes is a choice. What is your choice today…this week…next month?

What do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, Your cross seems heavy, but in reality, it is not heavy. You have promised that if we come to You, our burden will be light.

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30.

Thank You for bearing my burdens…as I take up my cross and follow You.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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