The bearing of the cross is the way of growth in character and experience for the consecrated child of God. When we have trials that interfere with our human desires and appetites, then we know we are His disciples. We are to consider trials “light affliction, … working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
Every admonition to the consecrated man of God is an instruction in cross-bearing. But, note, that those things are our voluntary behaviors. The cross is not put upon us; we are to “take it up”!
Romans 2:1,2 “I beseech you…, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies [yourself, desires, goals, possessions, your very being] a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God.”
Matthew 6:19-21, 33 “Do not lay up …treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness….”
2 Corinthians 6:4-10, “But, in all things, we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live, as chastened, and yet not killed as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
Thus, having consecrated ourselves to the Lord, we should have no wills of our own; self should be ignored, or as the Apostle Paul expresses it, “ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God,” Colossians 3:3. “Reckon yourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God,” Romans 6:11.
While we know we can’t accomplish all these things perfectly, we do know the mercy and love of our Lord will make up the difference. Even under the weight of the cross, “a just man falls seven times, yet rises up again” Proverbs 24:16.
