We're Not Called to Lay Down...But Some

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus told his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself (become meek) and take up his cross and follow me (become submissive to the Will of God). 

As Christians, we are called to follow Christ. The disciples didn't know it, but Christ was to die soon. He didn't call the disciples to take up an actual cross. The cross was a symbol to represent the trials we all have to bear. The injuries we may suffer, the insults. Jesus went further to tell them that whosoever will save his life shall lose it. When I read this, I think of a scene from many a spy movie. A spy is tied up and tortured; he must turn on their calling, nation, and fellow citizens to live. To save their own lives, they betray their own country. And usually die anyway.

Christ is saying they will be ostracized and persecuted for following Him. They lose if they can't handle it and turn from following Him. They lose not their earthly lives but their eternal ones. He then continues by saying whoever will lose his life for His sake shall find it. Now He is talking about the ones who, even though life is hard, are being tortured because they follow Christ. The ones that don't give up and turn from Him.  These will find eternal life.

Some disciples lay down their lives and were killed or martyred for telling and teaching about Jesus and salvation. It's not illegal to teach about Christ, except in the public school system, in a government building, or in many public venues. We can still do it at church, home, and public places. We still have freedom of speech and religion, at least in the US.

Across the world, many countries have made it illegal to spread the news of Christ. Thousands of missionaries go to these countries every year,  risking death just for speaking the name of Jesus. These people, meek and mild, willing to lay down their lives for Jesus' sake, shall gain eternal life.

A friend from church had a daughter and son-in-law in the mission field. They had to use different names, go into the country as general workers, and could not have any direct contact with their families. Their families couldn't know where they were. These are the meek. These are the ones whose strength is in Christ Jesus, not themselves.

Now, not all are called to follow Christ across the world. Some are not called across the street. But we're all called to follow. We all have a purpose, a gift, or a talent. Find it, pick it up, and carry it with you daily as you follow Christ in the path He has set before you.

We aren't all called to lay down our lives, but we are all called to follow.