The cross of JESUS CHRIST must be taken up and carried by those who truly believe in CHRIST JESUS.
But you also have to put your life down to pick the cross of JESUS CHRIST up, for you must decrease in life to increase in GOD.
You cannot take up the cross of JESUS CHRIST, unless you’re ready to die to yourself, unless you’re ready to lay your life down completely.
Now you can come to the religion of Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, the Hebrew Israelite religion, Islam, and your institutionalized buildings called church any way you like to, because it’s nothing more than religion.
But the cross of JESUS CHRIST will cost you your entire life, for you have to lay your life down to pick the cross up.
“COUNT THE COST TO BEAR THE CROSS!”
(Luke 14:27-33) JESUS SAYS, And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, he cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first, AND COUNTS THE COST, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first, and consults whether or not he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassage, and desires conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that does not forsake all that he has, he cannot be my disciple.
(Mark 10:21) JESUS SAYS, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the CROSS, and follow me.
(Philippians 2:5-9) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.
(1 Timothy 3:16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Brothers and sisters, if JESUS had to decrease in life to increase in GOD, then what makes you think GOD is going to ask anything less of you?
If GOD has manifested himself in the flesh, justified himself in the Spirit, was seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory.
Then what makes you think GOD is going to ask anything less of you?