Take Up Your Cross

As we go through life we all struggle with our own personal weaknesses and temptations. We know and love our Savior. We long to serve him and live to his glory. But we are weak. When we fall prey to the weakness of our sinful flesh, it breaks our heart. It is frustrating for us that the good we want to do, we do not do and the evil we hate, this we keep on doing! This is the cross we have to bear.

The answer is the cross of Christ. There we find forgiveness and renewed strength through God’s Holy Spirit to say “no” to sin and “yes” to God.

In this series we’ll see that even though we often feel very much alone in our spiritual struggles, we are not alone. No cross is unique and born only by one in all of history except, of course, for the cross of our Redeemer. Yet, there are certain crosses that are unique to the different stages and ages of life. Some temptations and struggles are most common to the young, others to adults and still others to the older generation.

Each week we simply want to look at the crosses that are rather typical to each of these age groups in the interest of strengthening the one who imagines that he is all alone under his cross. We also hope to provide, in some small measure, the balm of the gospel that heals and strengthens those under these crosses.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).