Take Up Your Cross, The Savior Said, ELW 667
1 "Take up your cross," the Savior said,
"if you would my disciple be; forsake the past,
and come this day, and humbly follow after me."
2 Take up your cross;
let not its weight pervade your soul with vain alarm;
his strength shall bear your spirit up, sustain your heart, and nerve your arm.
3 Take up your cross, nor heed the shame,
nor let your foolish heart rebel;
for you the Lord endured the cross to save your soul from death and hell.
4 Take up your cross and follow Christ,
nor think till death to lay it down;
for those who humbly bear the cross one day will wear the glorious crown.
Devotion
Life in this world is not easy for those of us who call ourselves Christians. We are called to live our lives differently because of what God did for us in sending Jesus Christ into the world to live, die and rise for us. When we live our lives as a faithful response to what God has done for us, people will notice. We will not receive earthly rewards because we are faithful Christians. There will be times when we will receive just the opposite. We will face persecution because we are willing to live as God has called us to live instead of how the world would like us to live. In the hymn, "Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said," we are reminded that life in this world is lived with the burden of carrying a cross. The cross does not weaken our faith. The cross strengthens and helps us look forward to the day when the pain and suffering of this life will come to an end. We will receive our eternal reward of living with Christ in his kingdom.
Prayer
Good and gracious God, thank you for sending Jesus into the world to live, die and rise for our salvation. Help us to live our lives as faithful responses to what you have done. Help us to bear our crosses patiently and listen to your call on our lives not the voices of the world. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.