Bearing the cross is not bearing the sum total of our personal problems. The cross is a place of death to our selves. The selfish self that needs to die may have been exposed by our problems. Problems have a way of revealing and unpacking who and what we are. More often than not, they reveal our true selves. Crucifixion of the fleshly nature is that to which the cross calls us. We were crucified with Christ on the cross provisionally. But that provision must become a practical reality; we must reckon it to be so by faith and consecration (Romans 6:11). To carry the cross is to embrace the self-denial that leads to dying to self.
“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised….Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:21, 24 (ESV)
