The Glorious Way of the Cross

The Glorious Way of the Cross

“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” Luke 9:23.

Jesus advanced daily on a way, and it was His deepest desire to have some followers on this way. Jesus says that it is a narrow way, and that there are few who find it and walk on it and then get others to walk on it. Jesus said to His disciples, “Where I go you know and the way you know.” They still had to go on this way, but they could not until they had received power on the day of Pentecost. After that they also began to walk on this way, and as they walked on it and tasted how blessed and good it was to put their feet where Jesus had gone the ardor in their hearts was kindled that as many people as possible might go on this narrow way of life. This was the beginning of a powerful revival on the way of the cross! They had reaped enough bitter fruits by doing their own will, and now that they knew that there was sufficient power available to deny their own ego and do God’s will for the rest of their lives, they went forward with great boldness, inviting others to go on this way as well.

Are we wholeheartedly along in the revival to go on the way of the cross and self-denial? Have we experienced the fullness of life and power by walking on it, so that with great boldness and joy we can awaken others to start walking on it?

May there be a powerful revival in our days to deny ourselves daily, and take up our cross and follow Jesus. Jesus did not invite us to go on any other way, and those who do not want to walk on this way are not worthy of Him. Any other revival is a deception. All liberty, without daily taking up your cross, is false liberty. All love without the cross is false love. All joy without the cross is false joy, etc.

Paul sang the praises of the cross and did not want to boast of anything else. By it he was crucified to the world and the flesh, with all its passions and desires, and Christ could live in him because of this blessed cross. By this cross the enmity was forever put to death, and the love of Christ ruled in his heart. By being crucified with Christ, he made a public spectacle of the principalities and powers and triumphed over them.

Yes, this is a glorious cross and a glorious way of the cross that is the royal highway to the throne of God and the Lamb. No other way leads anywhere. If you have not begun to walk on this way then you must make haste to start walking on it! Our selfish ego brings us only a curse and misfortune, strife, unrest, anxieties, and worries of every kind. On the way of the cross we will experience rest and peace in our hearts, and it will be good for our entire body.

If you are witnessing great revivals with signs and wonders, in which the preaching does not emphasize the way of the cross and self-denial, then flee from all such revivals. Such times will come. 2 Thess. 2:9-12. Let us rather keep our love for the truth in all circumstances so that we can know that we have been chosen for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. V. 13.

Let us never seek the gifts of the Spirit in preference to the love that never seeks its own and does not become bitter. However, if the gifts are used in Christ’s Spirit of sacrifice on the way of the cross and self-denial, then everything will be a blessing.

Jesus says that to be lowly in our own eyes is great in God’s eyes. This means that we humble ourselves under everyone in order to serve them. If we encounter the reproach of men on this narrow way, God will crown us with glory, honor, and peace.