Take Up Your Cross (Matthew 16:24)
Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain,

Take Up Your Cross

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. --Matthew 16:24

Your “cross” is God’s will for you, regardless of the cost. Taking up your cross is a choice; it is not beyond your control. You may have health problems or a rebellious child or financial pressures, but do not mistake these as your “cross to bear.” Neither circumstances you face nor consequences of your own actions are your cross. Your cross will be to voluntarily participate in Christ’s sufferings as He carries out His redemptive purposes (Philippians 3:10). Paul said he rejoiced in his sufferings because he knew that by them he was able to participate in the suffering required to bring others into Christian maturity (Colossians 1:24).

We tend to want to go immediately from “denying ourselves” to “following Jesus.” But you can never follow Jesus unless you have first taken up your cross. There are aspects of God’s redemptive work that can be accomplished only through suffering. Just as Christ had to suffer in order to bring salvation, you may have to endure hardships in order for God to bring salvation to those around you. Jesus did not talk with His disciples about the cross until they had come to know He was the Christ (Matthew 16:21). You will never be able to endure the suffering of the cross unless you have first been convinced that Jesus is the Christ. Once you have settled your relationship with Christ, He will introduce you to your cross.

There is no Christianity without a cross. If you are waiting for a relationship with God that never requires suffering or inconvenience, they you cannot use Christ as your model. God’s will for you involves a cross. First, take up your cross, they you can follow Him.

REFLECTIONS

Have I ever chosen not to take up your cross?
How have I experienced my cross in my life?

PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of July 20, 2008

FOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING

Jean     [Friend of Marsha Puckett] undergoing cancer surgery Friday.

PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH

Pray for the Lord’s guidance, wisdom and discernment for the leaders and members of our congregation as we move to join God where He is working among us. The leadership of this congregation is considering two major avenues where we believe God is at work. 

We have been considering for over a year the possibility of planting a new church through child care ministry. We are in the process of looking at various locations including the former Ford Plant Child Day Care Center. Market studies need to be completed in order to help us make an informed decision regarding the feasibility of any site we may be considering. 

We have most recently been discussing the possibility of expanding our current campus. Conceptual drawings have been submitted showing how we can add additional space for an expanded Preschool and Child Care for approximately 60 children. There would also be second floor that would contain an expanded Fellowship Hall located off the narthex with a dedicated, enclosed kitchen. There would be a Youth Room and office for the Youth Pastor. There would be a cry room with visibility into the sanctuary, a technology room for all the control panels and computers to run the sound system and projection system. 

We are also desiring to upgrade our organ. It is in serious need of major maintenance and upgrading. 

As you can see we need the Lord to reveal His will for our congregation so that we join Him where He is working. So please pray that God would make His will clearly known as we, leadership and members, become further informed and seek to join Him in His work for us. Remember, we cannot stay where we are and go with God. 

Again I would ask you to pray for our Sunday School. We are getting dangerously close to Rally Day and the beginning of a new Sunday School year. At this time we have NO SUPERINTENDENT(S) OR STAFF. If we are to have a Sunday School Ministry that blesses the lives of the children of our congregation, pray that God will lead the people we need so that Sunday School will happen. I cannot believe that it is God’s will for us to have no Sunday School this fall.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.--1 Peter 5:10-11

In Christ,
Paul Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church
 

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