We often hear people say that something unfortunate or unpleasant is "my cross to bear." But is that really what Jesus meant when He gave His followers this command? Or was it something much deeper and more sacrificial? Keep reading to learn why the command to "take up your cross and follow me" requires us to give up everything.

An astute theologian (or particularly ornery skeptic) might ask, "if God is all-powerful, then why did He need to send His Son to die for humanity's sins?" It's a big question, but one that the Bible answers across the Old and New Testaments. Let's explore why there must be shed blood for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus' cursing the fig tree is no mere story, He actually did it! And two gospel writers recorded this story. But of all the miraculous things Jesus did on earth, why record this incident? Was Jesus just hungry and frustrated, or is there a much deeper meaning to His curse?

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

The Holy Spirit is a profound mystery, indeed. Let’s be honest, most of us don’t have the first inkling how the Holy Spirit impacts us – or should impact us – in our everyday lives. We don’t see Him, we don’t feel Him, are we even aware of Him inside of us? How in the world do I even know if He’s there?

Of course, we all know that Jesus promised His disciples (and us) that when He left, He would leave us a “Helper” (John 14:26, 15:26; 16:7). Then, at His ascension into heaven, He promised that the Holy Spirit would come upon us. But even when Jesus spoke with Nicodemus under the cover of night, Jesus taught that we are to be born of Spirit. He continued with a teaching we can take to heart:

“Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:6, 8).

Of course, the lessons here are endless, but we know that when we give our hearts and lives to Christ Jesus, we are born of His Spirit. That means we have His Spirit living within us. In fact, without the Spirit in our lives, we cannot be born again. And yet, Jesus told us then of the mysterious and transformative nature of the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of those who are born again.

Just like the wind is invisible and rather unpredictable, thus too is the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. So, while we don’t always know what to listen for, or look for, we know this – He is alive and moving within us, and we are to be alert to His presence and to His leading.

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We often think being a Christian in America is easy, what with all the freedoms and safety we have. But could our luxurious, easy life here in the west be slowly lulling us to sleep? Are we drifting away from pursuing a real relationship with God?

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:20-21).

The apostle Paul is a man many of us are probably familiar with. For myself, it feels like I almost know him personally. We know his story, his trials, his temptations, and his prayers to the Lord. We know what he went through wherever he traveled. And if you are familiar with your Bible, you also know that Paul was previously known as Saul.

Paul’s Early Life as a Persecutor

Saul was a Pharisee’s Pharisee, an up and comer. And he used the position to persecute followers of Christ. While some believe that Paul killed Christians, the truth is the Bible does not say that Saul killed Christians or had them killed. It does say, in Acts 7:58, that Saul was present at the stoning of Stephen – the first martyr for Christ – and that he approved the act. He continued to “breathe out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (Acts 9:1).

And then Saul’s life was turned upside down and twisted around. He was on his way to Damascus with orders from the high priest – at least, according to Saul at the time – to take as prisoners any who belonged to “the Way,” the Church of Jesus Christ, and take them back to Jerusalem (Acts 9:2). The whole story can be found in Acts 9. It tells of a conversion unlike any before or since. 

Subsequently, Saul became Paul – the most prolific writer of New Testament books. He was a man absolutely committed to the gospel message and discipleship. What Paul may not have been aware of were the Lord’s words to Ananias, who was being sent to aid a blinded Saul:

“Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:15-16).

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Our celebrations of American independence are filled with fireworks, cookouts, parades, and general fanfare. It is an exciting day! But as we mediate on our freedom as Americans, let that draw us to ponder the many freedoms we enjoy in Christ. Crucially, these freedoms can never be taken from us.

When we face questions with no clear answer, believers may wonder and then trust as best we can. Non-believers, however, often try to use these as “gotcha questions,” things they can ask to prove there are no clear and concise answers. To them, the lack of a clear answer proves that there is no God.

Persecution is not only something that happens in closed countries; it is all around us and always has been. But despite generations of people and nations trying to stamp out Christianity, it continues to grow and thrive. How? Why? And most importantly, what can we do to help?

“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear” (Matthew 13:8-9).

We have all seen them. Maybe they are in our small group. Maybe they are sitting next to us in church. We probably don’t know them, but maybe we remember seeing them once or twice. Or maybe we see them on social media or find ourselves in some type of meeting group they are a part of. But let’s face it, we are all well aware of those who call themselves Christian – but act anything but Christ-like. 

Christians who don’t practice Christianity. To steal a political term – CINO’s. “Christians in name only.”

The thing is, there are many varying kinds of CINO’s (C’s, for short.) Different actions, behaviors, viewpoints and of course, contrasting levels of faith. Maybe they were raised by Christian parents and just automatically carried on as if they were Christian. Maybe they heard a Billy Graham crusade somewhere along the way, but never really went any further. It’s sort of like someone who stands at the door to a house, leans inside, looks around and marvels at the beauty of the home, but never steps inside. 

Have you ever stood on the edge of a pool, wanting to jump into the water, but hesitated – or even decided not to jump – for fear of the water being too cold? Yeah, it’s like that.

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I think we would all agree that unity in the Church is absolutely essential in the message of the Gospel and the glorification of God. Unity that faith in Christ brings us exhibits the love of Christ here on earth, demonstrates the truth of who Jesus really is, and displays the impact He has on our lives.

Personally, I can’t even imagine Jesus praying for me. And yet we are told multiple times in Scripture that He does. This isn’t talked about or preached about a great deal anymore, but Jesus intercedes for every one of us.

Why would a guy the king invited get thrown out because he wasn’t wearing the right clothes? And he wasn’t just thrown out – he was thrown outside “into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” That was an expression Jesus used seven times; it was His description of the fate of the unrighteous at the conclusion of the age. In other words, hell.

“Submit to one another, out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22).

How times have changed. It was not that long ago that we could watch television and see men portrayed as the heads of the family. TV shows like “Father Knows Best,” “Leave It To Beaver,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Good Times” and “Family Matters” all presented fathers as the moral, sensible, and responsible leaders of the household.

Now, many shows portray being a father as a bit of a joke. As some have tried to downplay fatherhood and the roles of fathers in the lives of their families. There is no doubt that the portrayal and image of men in today’s culture has taken a beating.

Of course, more than a few questions will be put forth simply by raising such a subject. One is, why can’t women be the spiritual leaders of the family? The fact is, as a result of the sad divorce rate, even among Christians, many women have been left to lead their families in every way – including spiritually.

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