Take Up Their Cross Daily

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ They answered, ‘John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.’ He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’ Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.’ Luke 9:18-27

We all have burdens and challenges. It is the cost of being human. None of us is perfect and yet we pretend to be. We don't want anyone to see our flaws, so we hide them, we silently judge others, and we do not bring our authentic selves to our work or our God. We cannot follow Jesus unless we bring our real, unvarnished selves. And we know that those we love, we love them fully with all their quirks and faults. And they love us completely in our truly authentic selves. May we follow Jesus today, fully and completely with no pretense, just sincere love.

Precious Creator, tender One and Source of love

we are treasured by you in our whole incompleteness

we are you heart and hands here on this globe

and you call us to follow you with open hearts.

Too often we think our brokenness is shameful

too often we blame others for our failings

regularly we say we cannot go with you

we are afraid folks will see our terrible mistakes.

You, O Lord, carried the cross for all of us

you promise to make us fully yours today

help us to take up our crosses and follow

knowing you are leading us to life abundant. Amen.