Emphasis Preaching Journal

A deeply committed Christian minister wanted to be active in carrying out Christ's statement to anyone who would follow him to "take up his cross and follow me." So he conceived of an idea which he put into action. The idea was to construct a cross about the size of the one on which Christ was crucified. Then he would carry that cross, going by foot, from Toledo, Ohio, about 75 miles away, to his hometown. The purpose in so doing was to make people aware of the cross of Christ, and to show that here was one who was not ashamed to be identified with Christ in his suffering. Admirable as his incentive was, his actions were missing the point of Christ's statement. We can assume many crosses as we move through life. One is the cross of humbly bearing insults from those who despise our Christian way of life. Others such as the crippled, the aged, the blind, and the depressed bear crosses which we can lift by showing sympathy or giving a helping hand. No publicity is apt to accompany the kindness we show, for Christ expects us to do kind deeds without ostentation. But when we give a lift to anyone of our unfortunate brethren, we are carrying a cross for Christ. -- Lentz