Carrying The Burden
Luke 23:26 As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Simon from Cyrene (a country in Northern Africa) was minding his own business when the Roman soldiers grabbed him and put the cross of Jesus on his shoulders. We know little about Simon but the Bible includes him at a critical time in the life of Jesus. He helped carry the LORD’s burden up to Golgotha.
The rough wood must have cut into his shoulders. He could probably carry it, though, because he hadn’t been awake for two days. Simon hadn’t been beaten all night and taunted, either. So who is this man who appears for a few verses in the Bible and is never mentioned again? He’s just like you and me – someone who is needed in the work.
He is an example to us of how we are to work for the LORD. Do we wait until the Roman soldier drags us into the LORD’s work? Are we even capable to carrying the burden? OR, do we step in and pick up the burden and help to carry the Cross of Golgotha to a world that would prefer it never happened?
Simon probably wishes he hadn’t been at that place on that day. Some of us are called by the LORD to carry His burden and, like Simon, we wish we hadn’t been there to get the call – it is inconvenient, after all. Like the Roman soldiers, the LORD doesn’t ask us whether or not we want to be called. He knows we can do the job so He gives it to us.
The weight of the Cross will be heavy at times. The splinters will hurt and the skin will be rubbed raw. John 13:18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." That is why we will struggle to carry the Cross. The world does not want to Cross carried. The world does not want the message of Grace and Salvation. The world does not want us doing His work. There is one thing the world will never understand, though....
The LORD prepares us for His work and then calls us to do it. The LORD knows we can do anything with His help. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Pick up the Cross when you are told to. It can only lead to wonderful things.
Wilkie Nunn
Pastor
Simon from Cyrene (a country in Northern Africa) was minding his own business when the Roman soldiers grabbed him and put the cross of Jesus on his shoulders. We know little about Simon but the Bible includes him at a critical time in the life of Jesus. He helped carry the LORD’s burden up to Golgotha.
The rough wood must have cut into his shoulders. He could probably carry it, though, because he hadn’t been awake for two days. Simon hadn’t been beaten all night and taunted, either. So who is this man who appears for a few verses in the Bible and is never mentioned again? He’s just like you and me – someone who is needed in the work.
He is an example to us of how we are to work for the LORD. Do we wait until the Roman soldier drags us into the LORD’s work? Are we even capable to carrying the burden? OR, do we step in and pick up the burden and help to carry the Cross of Golgotha to a world that would prefer it never happened?
Simon probably wishes he hadn’t been at that place on that day. Some of us are called by the LORD to carry His burden and, like Simon, we wish we hadn’t been there to get the call – it is inconvenient, after all. Like the Roman soldiers, the LORD doesn’t ask us whether or not we want to be called. He knows we can do the job so He gives it to us.
The weight of the Cross will be heavy at times. The splinters will hurt and the skin will be rubbed raw. John 13:18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." That is why we will struggle to carry the Cross. The world does not want to Cross carried. The world does not want the message of Grace and Salvation. The world does not want us doing His work. There is one thing the world will never understand, though....
The LORD prepares us for His work and then calls us to do it. The LORD knows we can do anything with His help. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Pick up the Cross when you are told to. It can only lead to wonderful things.
Wilkie Nunn
Pastor
posted by Wilk | 6:59 AM
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