Dear Child of God,
Have you ever heard the saying: "Nothing good comes easy"? The statement some of us want to avoid by taking the easy way out and most times we get into trouble for that. Quick money, bribing officials, stealing the item that we really need. I mean, it is tempting to take the easy way out especially when you have nothing to lose because why suffer when I can just do it this way and save myself the stress. Why wait in line when I can pay to get it quickly? Let's do a quick analysis on the life of Jesus while He was on earth.
The King of Kings came down from heaven and became flesh like you and I. He was born into a poor family. When he grew and began his mission, he did not have a house where he lived or a soft bed to lay his head. He wandered around. He had no money, no fancy carriage to move around, no servants and no slaves. Three years later, He was condemned to death. He was stripped of his garment, beaten, wounded severely, crucified like a criminal, his bones were dislocated and even after He died, He was pierced at the side. They say He sweated blood because he was under extreme stress. If indeed He is God, why go through all of this? Why suffer?
Many believe the suffering of Jesus started that Friday but I believe Jesus never had it easy seeing as He wasn't born with a silver spoon in His mouth. Through his life, Jesus predicted his death multiple times to His disciples. He kept reminding them of the horror that was to come but He also told them that He would rise on the third day. He would defeat death and give us redemption, grace and salvation. He did just that. Afterwards, He ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.
You see, to get to the crown, Jesus took up the cross. For a man who could raise someone from the dead, He could have stopped what he was about to experience, He had the ultimate power, but He did not. He went through with the cross to save you and I. He gave us the ultimate gift.
If Jesus took up His cross before He got His crown, it shows we also have to go through some discomfort to get the great things that we hope to achieve. As a Christian, we need to accept that we will face persecution here and there and as students, some sleepless nights. In all our various fields, we have our discomforts. Reading through this chapter, maybe there is that one thing you've always wanted to do but didn't because you're scared of the problems you'd have to face. You probably take shortcuts to get what you want whether at your detriment or the detriment of others. I'd like to encourage you not to run from your cross. Take up your cross and pray to the one who took up His cross years ago. He understands and He will help you. Keep going because beyond that cross, there is a crown waiting to be worn by you.
God bless you.
***
Please be a blessing to other readers by dropping words of encouragement, bible verses, experiences and testimonies. God bless you dear reader.
