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As a pastor I have been given many different crosses through
the years of ministry. This is just a
small selection of them. Some were
handcrafted by friends others traveled from faraway places to touch my life and
work. I think I have only purchased the
cross from San Salvador. I can still
read the artist’s name on the back M. Salgueso.
I wonder what his faith journey was.
More than one children’s time through the years has featured this colorful
cross.
The little gold cross has my birth stone in the center and was given
to me by my beloved husband, Rob. He has
been my strong “bulwark” in my ministry, often sacrificing time, financial
resources and recognition to help me follow my call. Who are the people who make it possible for
you to follow your call?
Of course all these crosses have meaning found in the cross
of Christ Jesus. This makes these lovely
pieces of jewelry, like wearing a hangman’s noose or some other weapon of
torture and death. Yet a major portion
of our witness is acceptance that Jesus the Author of Life, died that we would
have eternal forgiveness of our sins. “…
Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny
themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24. He carried our cross to Calvary. With his blood he purchased eternal life for
all of us.
So if Jesus has done all the heavy lifting, what does it
mean to take up our cross and follow Jesus?
It still means sacrifice. Here we
are in Lent and giving up something is a time honored tradition for Lent, but the
sacrifice that Jesus is talking about is giving up one’s life! If you just keep reading in Matthew, Jesus
then says: For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who
lose their life for my sake will find it. (verse 25)
This is not the small devotional sacrifice of
Lent, such as fasting from food, or specific foods like chocolate, or not using
electronic equipment like TVs and computers, or the sacrifice of time and money
to a meaningful mission or cause. This
is THE BIG SACRIFICE! This is turning your life over to follow Jesus not just
for Lent but every day you have breath.
This is the true meaning about wearing a cross. I am no longer in charge. I devote my life to Christ’s mission to bring
about the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth.
My very first cross was given to me by my father when I was still in
grade school. He never told me the story
of why he purchased it. It was not my
birthday, but I can still remember that I was seating on the couch watching TV,
when he came home from work and handed it to me. I am sure something or someone moved him to
bring this rhinestone encrusted cross home.
It is especially appropriate for a child; since it has a surprise in the
center. That’s not a stone, but a very
small magnifying lens and after more than 50 years you can still see some of
the Lord’ Prayer inside. I am sure he
never knew the direction my following Jesus would take me, but he was the first
to mark the way. So I dedicate this blog
to my heavenly Father and my earthly Father who worked to together to teach me
to carry my cross. May you too learn to carry
your cross and accept Christ’s will for your life. Amen.
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