Everyone during the time of Jesus was familiar with the cross –a torturous execution reserved for the worst of criminals. After someone is found guilty and is sentenced, he had to carry the top beam of the cross to the execution site. Along that trip, they were spat on, sneered at, mocked and yelled at. It was dead man walking – the ultimate human example of self-denial. It was a one-way trip. There was no turning back. Your life was as good as gone. You aren’t living for your own glory or for your own accomplishments. When Jesus says to take up your cross, he says “daily.” There are very few things that we actually do daily: we eat, we drink, we breathe, we clean and clothe ourselves. The word daily infers that it is something of the utmost necessity—like our daily bread. By using the same the word ‘daily’ in taking up our cross, Jesus is pointing to the utter necessity of taking up our cross in order to live as disciples. Walking in God’s plan for our lives is to take up our cross. Denying ourselves and walking with Jesus.

Today, let’s recognize our daily need to take up our Cross, as we follow him.

-GK