With God-given grace and faith, I do accept the 'on the cross' redemptive work of Christ which He bore for me. That happened long ago and I didn't feel the pain. And so I'm saved. "Saved by the blood of the crucified One..." What challenges me now is to daily take up my cross, die to self, sin and the world and live for Jesus and others. This is the cross He gives to me. My old self does not want to do this. I DO NOT want to suffer the inevitable pain entailed. Few do. But, as His disciples WE MUST because it is intrinsic to being His!
Luke 9:23
"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."
Dick D. Christen
