I’ve been thinking about Mark 10:21 a lot lately!

This is the scripture where Jesus tells the people to sell all their possessions, give it to the poor and then for them to take up their cross and follow him.

The cross is an interesting term to use. We know it as the piece of equipment used to kill Jesus. However, when Jesus said this the people only knew of a cross as the way the Romans killed the worst criminals. The criminal would have to carry the very instrument that would kill him all the way to the place of the crucifixion. People would spit on them, the soldiers would beat them and they basically would be humiliated, all as a punishment for what they did. The cross was a place of death!

So Jesus tells us we are to take up our cross. He doesn’t say pick up his cross, or the Roman cross, or another persons cross, he says YOUR cross.

What does this mean? Well it means we are to spend our lives giving up our lives to follow him. Not physical death, but a death to self. You see Jesus knew that selfishness destroys lives. Jesus was asking us to die to all the things that kills our soul and our spirit. Things like pride, selfishness, envy, selfish ambition etc.

The only way for you to find real fulfilling live was the kill the very thing inside of you that is trying to destroy you!

So many see Mark 10:21 as a negative! It’s not negative at all; it’s the most positive thing I believe you can do for your life! Humility is a life-saver; selflessness is a life-giver, celebrating others success is a life-preserver, Godly ambition is a life-provider.

So over the last couple of weeks I have been waking up every morning thinking about what I need to do that day to take up my cross and follow Jesus. Each day the cross may look a little different, but the common denominator is that everyday they are my own crosses and I am the only one who can pick them up and follow Christ!

If you desire life, then today take up YOUR cross and follow Christ. It’s the only way you’ll find, gain and receive life!