Take Up Your Cross

My next door neighbor, Lisa, has become one of my dearest friends. Over the last 9 months we have shared 2 very important passions together. One is running (we workout together 6 days a week at 5am! We ran a half marathon in January and are now training for a duathlon in April!) And the other is working alongside Acres of Love to rescue and care for abandoned AIDS orphans in South Africa. Lisa has also been invited to go to SA in October and together we are carefully wrestling with this big decision. We are prayerfully considering this risky and life changing trip and as sisters in Christ we want to be sure of God's will in each of our lives as we struggle through this discernment process.
A few Saturdays ago we were running along the San Juan river bed. We were jamming that morning, running so hard and strong as we talked about what we thought God might be wanting to use our lives for, what purpose does He want us to serve, and if we felt we were being called to go to South Africa. We made a joke that it sure would be nice if God would just give us a clear sign in regards to his will for us in this decision. Immediately our attention was drawn down to the ground in front of us as we ran past a small, wooden, hand made cross on the ground. We both freaked out!! Wow, there's a sign for us! I turned back and bent down to grab the cross and as I stood up a scripture came to me and I said out loud...."Take up your cross and follow me." I carried that cross for the rest of our run, getting some strange looks from passers by! It now hangs on my kitchen wall.
This past Sunday at church one of the pastors did his sermon on that very scripture. Strange coincidence?
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you want to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it."
-Matthew 16: 24-25
My bible commentary says this about the verse "When Jesus used this pictures of his followers taking up their crosses to follow him, the disciples knew what he meant. Crucifixion was a common Roman method of execution, and condemned criminals had to carry their cross through the streets to the execution site. Following Jesus, therefore, meant a true commitment, the risk of death, and no turning back...Real discipleship implies real commitment-pledging our whole existence to his service. If we try to save our physical life from death, pain, or discomfort, we may risk losing eternal life. If we protect ourselves from the pain that God calls us to suffer, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Our lives turn inward, and we lose our intended purpose. When we give our life in service to Christ, we discover the real purpose of living."