Cross Bearing

-- An Acrostic --

                                     Christ being your sole Headmaster,      
                                     Run with great love and passion, 
                                     Obeying His great and high call,
                                     Surrendering to Him your all,     
                                     Striving to please Him no matter what.

                                     Being all that He wants you to be,  
                                     Enduring all shame and reproach,
                                     Admitting that you’re so unworthy,
                                     Robed with humility as a cloak,
                                     Imitating Christ’s behavior, 
                                     Not moving your eyes from Jesus’ face,
                                     Going for that straight, narrow door. 

--Hope, girl, age 14

Scriptural basis:

“And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’” (Luk 9:23; cf., Mat 16:24; Mar 8:34)

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:1-2)

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Mat 7:13-14)

"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." (Luk 13:24)

“Find out what pleases the Lord.” (Eph 5:10. NIV)

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."  (Gal 2:20)

"But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."  (Gal 6:14)

Related Poems:

The Cost

I'll Follow You

Reward of the Overcomer

Related blogs:

The Cost of Discipleship
The Straight and Narrow Path   
Costly Grace
Carrying Your Cross or Cross Dressing?
Crucified with Christ
The Ways of Life

Related Quotes:
“Cross- loving men are needed.” -- Hudson Taylor

“Fruit-bearing involves cross-bearing.” -- Hudson Taylor

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.  The "At the Cross" illustration is by my seventeen-year old daughter, Charity Lacroix. You can find more of her lovely artwork at A Brush with Life.

Author's note:  The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages ten through seventeen. The "Why This Blog" post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness. I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.