"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
May 30, 2008
It was another sunday in the summer of 2002. To some, just a regular day, but to me, it was special. Today was the wedding day of a special friend of mine. Only, a dark cloud hung over all the excitement-because I would be unable to attend. The band that I was a member of was leaving on a road trip to another city to minister to other peolple through our music; and I had to go. Don't get me wrong, I loved being in the band, it's just that everytime I had an even to attend, the band had to leave to another city. Their plans didn't exactly fit into my schedule. "That's not fair!" I pouted to myself. "Everytime I have an exciting thing to do our band has to go off and minister!" I was so mad and annoyed that I didn't even realize how badly I was sinning. The whole drive to Portland I was crabby. Yes, acting like a big baby! We finally arrived at the church, got ready, unpacked our instruments, and the church service began. Even then, although now i'm sure that the Lord was talking to me through the sermons, I was closing my ears and was unable to hear God's message. It was only then, at the end of the church service when I saw the joyous faces and the gratitude from the church members did God's voice come into my heart. "This is your daily cross. " it told me. My cross was leaving behind things i'd rather be doing, and serving the Lord with the musical talent I was given by Him. Sure sometimes I wanted to go to a party instead of a band trip, but with God's help I take up my cross, and follow Him.
Lord, may we daily take up our crosses and follow You, even if sometimes it is very hard to do. Juliya Chubenko