CHRIST, THE CHRISTIAN AND OUR CROSS

The LORD Jesus Christ of Nazareth, calls all His followers, and His disciples, to walk on the path that, He had walked. It is imperative for us, as the disciples, of the LORD, to walk, just as our Master did. We find in Mark 8:34-38, the call of our Master, to all who are His disciples.
– “34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, [and take up his cross daily] and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” – Mark 8:34-38

Down through the ages, ever since this call, many a child of God, had obediently and faithfully followed our LORD. Many had to pay a heavy price. Some others, not so much. Whatever the case, we as the disciples of the LORD, are called to take up our cross, every day of our lives, and follow our Master ever so faithfully. Many an obstacle may block our way. Many a struggle may try to stop us. Many a storm may wish to disrupt us. The LORD, walking along with us, wishes that we take up our cross daily, and follow Him faithfully.

Today, the 19 November in the year 1672, almost 350 years ago, Richard Baxter, the Puritan preacher from the UK, chooses to defy the English law, which forbade him to preach. In response to such restrictions, Baxter said, 
– “preaching as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.”
Baxter was bold and strong in the face of persecution, but his general life was not all cosy and comfortable. He suffered with sickness upon sickness, most of his life. In fact, the last twenty-nine years of his life he was in trouble upon trouble, by repeated prosecution, monetary fines from authorities, imprisonment in jail, and severe harassment from the king. Yet, Richard Baxter walked, ever so faithfully, with His LORD.

The same spirit is seen in Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg, the German Lutheran pietist clergy, who worked in South India. On 19 November, 1708, that is today, 316 years back, the Danish authorities, who were ruling the South India, imprison Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg, for four months, out of fear of losing profits from their trade, because of the gospel preached by this German Pietist. Ziegenbalg worked from 1706-1719 in India, and died at a young age of 36, working for a mere 13 years. Yet, Ziegenbalg did a lot, in that short duration, in his LORD’s vineyard.

How about us, dear brothers and sisters? How are we spending our life? To what use are we putting, our time, our talents, and all that our Creator and Redeemer had, graciously and generously bestowed us with? May the LORD help us to live and serve Him, much more than anything else in our lives. May we take up our cross, and daily, follow our Master, as He leads to wherever He wants.
– “23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23