Are You A Cross Carrying Christian?

I am struck lately by the busyness that seems to occupy most of our lives. I sit here on a cold and dreary November morning, musing about the number of conversations I have taken part in lately, that can basically be boiled down to " I would love to do more IF" there were more time, money, people to help, other commitments, and the list goes on...so this morning I ask myself this simple question...Am I carrying my cross?

In Luke 14 Jesus has an amazing conversation with a large group of people following him. Jesus told a couple of parables that revolved around having parties and who His followers should invite and the motives behind those invitations. At first it seems like a very benign conversation about putting more emphasis on inviting and elevating those who are less fortunate because of your Eternal reward that is awaiting in Heaven...which is by itself a great lesson!

But the teaching takes on a very serious tone when someone says to Jesus “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God” Luke 14:15.

¹⁶ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
²¹ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
²² “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
²³ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

WOW! What an interesting response to a person telling Jesus how wonderful it was going to be when we could eat at the table with Him in His Kingdom?  Jesus basically told them, to their faces, I'm going to invite all of you but MOST of you won't come!

Jesus goes on to say ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

So what does all this mean? Surely we are not supposed to hate our family and friends?

If we consider the fact that Jesus is asking us to take up our Cross and follow him it gets a little easier to understand. At this point there was no Cross at Calvary....only the common practice of Crucifixion. So what is Jesus asking to be Crucified? 


So, just as Jesus closed with in Luke 14, I beg you to consider the cost of being a disciple. Way it carefully in respect to the reward. The cost....YOUR LIFE! What's the other option? You can be one of the people that is just to busy with family,friends and other responsibilities to attend?
 
²³ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

 Are you ALL IN? Have you HUMBLED yourself so that "Your Life" is hung on a Cross so that it can only be seen through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ? If not...I beg you to reach out to Jesus and then to Godly men and women that will encourage you and hold you accountable so that you will endure!


 “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”