Day 2--take up your cross

'Then, speaking to all, he said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, will save it. What benefit is it to anyone to win the whole world and forfeit or lose his very self?'

LUKE 9: 23-25

I know, I know--how cliche: "money isn't everything", "you can't buy happiness". Well no, you can't--because happiness was already bought for you by the blood Christ shed on the cross. The taking up a cross sounds scary and challenging, this is true. But the thing is... well, life's not easy anyway. Happiness can only be perceived when contrasted with adversity and defeat. 

But God's not only asking us  to take up our crosses but to follow Him. 

See... life is hard, but without Him, it is hopeless. Hardship crushes you. And knowing you have Him on your side, fighting your fight, rejoicing with you and crying with you, makes all the difference. So if you are burdened, if you are tired, and you are sick of the life you lead, follow Him. With your cross. And lose your life for His sake, that you may be saved. 

God wants you to be happy and to live your life to the fullest, in complete freedom. But this is only possible when you give yourself to him. He gives you freedom from the chains that bind you to sin, addiction, sadness, loneliness.

Yet He won't force you to do anything. He doesn't even want your obedience!! 

He wants your L-O-V-E. 

And the thing with love is... it makes you crazy: It makes you want to please. And when you love God you want to please God. And when you love God you want to be around Him. And when you are around Him, chatting with Him and resting in His presence, suddenly your crosses--the burdens that wearied you so--become bearable because He helps you carry them. And happiness, true happiness, is grounded in His peace and His joy.

If you have never experienced His love well---challenge Him to do something about it! From the bottom of your heart, challenge God! He's a bit of a show-off and will certainly not let you down. Once you give your life to Him, He will not let you down. 

So take up your cross. Follow Him. He will give rest to your restless soul.