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I was on my way to church one Sunday, when I couldn't help but notice the man walking on the side of the highway. Not only was it raining, but he was walking uphill, dragging a huge cross on his shoulder.
As I passed this stranger, I was wondering why he would want to carry this huge cross in the rain, getting drenched. Was he trying to make a statement? Was he going through this ordeal for himself? I never did find out why the man was doing this, but there was one thing that I learned from this situation:
He stepped out of his comfort zone.
I am sure that this man isn't the only one who has hauled a huge cross on his shoulders in the name of his Christian faith, and neither will he be the last. There will be scoffers who will say that this is just a publicity stunt or that it is for show. Whatever the cause, I don't think that anyone would do something like this for publicity; it is for a personal reason that he is doing this. He is rejecting being laughed at, sneered at, and made fun of.
Matthew 16:24 – Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (NASB)
Do we dare to step out of our comfort zones when we see someone in need or trouble in order to help our neighbour?
Prayer: Lord God, help us to step out of our comfort zones and put our faith into action. Give us the strength to speak up for those who cannot speak. Give us the strength and wisdom to stand up for the truth. Help us to deny ourselves, pick up our individual crosses, follow You, and do Your will on earth. Amen.
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Thanks for the challenge Rosemary.
Food for thought Rosemary. Thanks for sharing.
I wonder if anyone stopped to help him carry that cross for a while?
Do you not think you should have approached him and asked what he was doing?
Amen, Rosy. Thanks for reminding us we were admonished through scripture to reach out to the whole world, not just part of it. God bless.
Good thought Rosy,
Many don’t realize what we would have to give up to truly take up His cross and follow Him.
God Bless You.
Thank you Rosemary. My immediate thought was to wonder why you wouldn’t have stopped and asked him… but that is not for me to question why you wouldn’t have.
A good Devotional.
Great message, Rosemary.
We could have this one repeated close to Easter. Yet we can rejoice in the remembrance of the love of Jesus every day.
Keep writing.
I found your web site and devotional! Used to read, till computer crash. I will watch for your devotionals from now on.
(USA)