And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27
“As Elton Trueblood has observed, all the major symbols that Jesus used had a severe, even offensive quality: the yoke of burden, the cup of suffering, the towel of servanthood, and finally the cross of execution. “Count the cost,” Jesus said, giving fair warning to any who dared follow Him.”
Philip Yancey (b. 1949) in The Jesus I Never Knew: Revealing What 2,000 Years of History Have Covered Up (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996) 96.
Today the giving from Jesus takes shape as a fair warning. Following Him will be hard. It will cost us everything and the gain will far outweigh the sacrifice, but that won’t make it any easier.
Today I needed this post to restore my passion to persevere.
While walking my son’s dogs by Bear Creek my prayer has been for renewed strength. I’ve prayed for healing from a cough I brought home from the last trip and deliverance from evil.
I feel the spiritual forces of evil trying to attack me and GTP.
But then whilst walking yesterday while crossing a bridge over the water, I had two bucks dart across my path. They posed for the header photo. In the Bible they represent piety, vulnerability, and safety in God’s care.
That filled me with peace as though God was giving me a blessing in those aras.
Today’s post aims to encourage everyone to press on. Jesus gave us fair warning of the yoke, the cup, the towel, and the cross we would bear. He will also help us do it. Press on people.
Not giving up may be the most generous thing we can model for those around us.