Jesus bore His cross, don’t abandon your own.

Jesus bore His cross, you must not reject yours

John  19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Our Lord Jesus Christ willingly submitted to everything the Father permitted to happen to Him, during His earthly ministry.

He went through the pains and shame associated with being a godly person.

Psalms  34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Isaiah  50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.  50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.  50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

2 Timothy  3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

John  18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Luke  22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

He became an example for all Bible believing believers to follow His steps and good examplary lifestyle.

Hebrews  12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Peter  2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

All Bible believing believers have cup given unto them by the Father.

Philippians  1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

2 Timothy  3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Matthew  20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.  20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Mark  10:36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?  10:37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.  10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?  10:39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

As Bible believing believers, we must joyfully take our cross and follow the good example of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew  10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Matthew  16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Mark  8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

You must carry the cross daily and follow the Lord.

Luke  9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Carrying the cross daily will make us to prefer Jesus more than anyone else.

Luke  14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.  14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.  14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.  14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Mark  10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.  10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,  10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Carrying the cross will make you to separate from anyone or anything that can hinder you from getting to heaven.

Mark  9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:  9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

The cross is God’s will crossing your will and choosing to do God’s perfect will and abandoning your own.

His grace is sufficient for you to carry your cross as Jesus did.

2 Corinthians  9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Beloved examine yourself,  are you carrying your cross or have you abandoned it?

The good Lord shall help you to carry your cross till Christ comes in Jesus name.

Let us pray.