Take up your Cross

Matthew 16:24-25 ESV

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

 

Abandoning the safety of the familiar and stepping into the unknown with unwavering faith lays the groundwork for discipleship. Forsaking comfort and convenience for a path riddled with challl

enges, rejection, and sacrifice is a journey that will strengthen you like no other. In the midst of it all is a joy that surpasses understanding. There is a peace that defies the chaos around you. There’s a wild, unshakable commitment to walk where He leads, even when the road is steep and the destination unclear. There’s no room for hesitation; no turning back, because His love compels you to press forward, eyes fixed on His.

 

Taking up your cross and following Him means forsaking the weight of past regrets and the pull of worldly desires. It is an act of trust so deep that you release every burden, every doubt, into His hands. You don't have the answers, and you choose to find peace in that. You cling to the promise that He is enough even when your flesh grows weak and tired. You set your face as a flint on Him and know that His grace will sustain you, and that His presence will never leave your side. With reckless abandon, you choose to walk the narrow road, not because it is easy, but because you know the One who walks with you. Because deep down, you know that you have no other choice than to sacrifice everything for the One who sacrificed His life for you. The love within compels you to go further, run faster, seek Him with everything you have... The cost is great, but the reward, an eternity in His embrace, is infinitely greater.

"Take up your Cross"

24x30" oil on canvas. 2024.