This is the first Sunday edition of the A.M.E. Today Newsletter. I knew it had to be
different from the other six days a week, I was just not quick sure in what ways.
So I decided I would let you look over my shoulder on Sunday and share with me some
scriptural thoughts and be the virtual sounding boards for my Sunday sermon.
Here is the scripture for today:
Mark 8:31-38
8:31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must
undergo great
suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief
priests, and the scribes, and
be killed, and after three days rise again.
8:32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him
aside and began to
rebuke him.
8:33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked
Peter and said, "Get
behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on
divine things but on
human things."
8:34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to
them, "If any want to
become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up
their cross and
follow me.
8:35 For those who want to save their life will lose it,
and those who lose their
life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save
it.
8:36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world
and forfeit their life?
8:37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?
8:38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and
sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be
ashamed when he comes
in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
This is a generation where we do as little as possible for ourselves.
We go to fast food outlets to eat.
Our cars are washed at car washes. Our kids are looked after by babysitters, or
daycare providers. Our housekeeping is done by once-a-week (or more) maids if we can
afford it. Our clothes are cleaned at the laundry. There is little we do for
ourselves, if we do not have to.
We do not want to do anything too strenuous, physically taxing, mentally challenging, or
spiritually trying. We sit around in a have-others-do-it-for-you-world, getting
spiritually and physically flabby.
That is why, the first time we run into a spiritual challenge, we go whining to God,
asking why me Lord, rathering than dropping to our knees and asking Him for strength to
once again go on the battle field for His glory.
Some of us, not calling any names, do not even whine. We just give up, roll over,
surrender, no mas, in short, resign ourselves to just go with the flow, even if Satan is
directing the currents.
God never promised us easy passage as Christians. To the contrary, He said if people
on this trouble earth rejected and despised His son, the one and only pure, sinless
Person, how could we expect them to treat us any better?
In today's scripture lesson, Jesus tells his disciples that the way would not be easy,
that the road may be rocky, but the end of the course was heavenly.
Jesus said: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up
their cross and follow me."
Before Jesus, the cross was the symbol of judgement, trials, tribulations and suffering.
After Jesus, the cross represented, hope, redemption and salvation.
Jesus was telling his disciples that to follow him, they may have to suffer. They
may have people disrespect them. They may even be physically abused. They may have
to give up some of the "pleasures" of life.
But he added, quickly, that to give in to the pressures of the world to save your life,
you only would lose your ever-lasting life.
Today, there are still circumstances where you might find your life in danger for being a
Christian. There still are times when your burdens may be a litte heavier because of
your faith. Times that the cross you carry might seem a bit heavy. Times when the
unsaved seem to be having mroe fun than you.
But look as you might in the Yellow Pages, there are no advertisements for substitute
cross bearers. There is no fast-solution to your personal cross, no one you can hire
to do it for you. This is one challenge that you have to face with your own
strength, wits and faith.
Jesus did not leave us to face this challenge alone. For as He prepared to depart
this earth, He said the Comforter would abide with us and empower us as well as give us
increased knowledge of God's word.
And if we allow the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to have His way, we also will quickly
discover that the burden of the cross becomes so light, you almost do not realize you even
have it.
Jesus literally bore the burden of the cross. He did it without complaint so not only
would we have life but life more abundantly.
Today, we are asked to bear the cross so we can lift Our Savior up for all the world to
see. And once seen, lifted up, He will draw all men unto Him.
This Sunday, are you going to let Jesus bear the cross alone? Or have you found the cross
made for you? Lift Him Up!
