Have you ever had a portion of Scripture stick in your mind and bother you like a piece of food caught between you teeth? Well, for several months Matthew 16:24 has been that for me. "Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" One phrase within that verse caught my attention and made me want to understand what Jesus meant by it, "take up his cross." I repeatedly read and meditated on that verse and phrase. I've read commentaries and the original Greek text. I have prayed for the Holy Spirit to give me understanding. I truly believed that if I were to be able to follow Christ as I wished to, I needed to fully understand the message of this verse.

Once again, this morning, I found myself meditating on this verse. And, the Holy Spirit began to fill in the blank. What is the meaning of "the cross?" Jesus gave His "life a ransom for many," as the full propitiation for the sins of mankind, so that God and man could be reconciled. Yes, but the cross also means "forgiven." Jesus took to Himself all that sinful man could do to and say about Him and He forgave all. When He told his disciples that they must take up their crosses, He was not telling them how they would die (though some would be crucified); but, how they should live! That they should take all that sinful people would do or say to them--take the blows--and forgive them. It is out of trying to "save our lives" that we become offended, angry, unforgiving and bitter. But, if we are willing to "lose our lives" that we may show forth Jesus Christ, then we must demonstrate His greatest act of love--forgiveness. In this we shall surely find the life of Christ we desire and are promised. (See Matthew 16:24-27) Think about it.