TAKE UP YOUR CROSS!
” Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of Me” – Matt. 10:38
To take up your cross and follow Jesus is not an easy thing to do. Many years ago, God came into a room in downtown Athens and set my heart on fire. Every since then I have understood what it means to carry your own cross.
I thought the life of an evangelist would be to excel in the pulpit, and to conduct large meetings in which the media would be present. I thought I would give interviews and shake the hands of mayors and important politicians. In turn, after 45 years I have preached simple sermons, conducted mostly small meetings, shaken the hands with and prayed for alcoholics, drug addicts, and criminals. I have preached and ministered to the unemployed, poor, rejected, abused, mentally ill and the lost and in the process lost the respect of the most important people in the church.
You become nothing, but in the process God can really use you. Most of us think that being respected by many gives us a ministry. You might have your own ministry, but God is not in it. You cannot have riches, serve yourself, agree with everyone, sell your soul to the system and be able to carry your cross.
Carrying your cross and following Jesus will not give you a name, it will not make you rich, it will not build your ministry. But it will give you an edge: the Holy Spirit will comfort you, give directions, heal, deliver and save through you.
I have decided to carry my cross and follow Jesus. How about you?
Rick Bonfim


