I'm compelled to write shortly today about one thing. You and I as soldiers of Christ must learn to love our crosses. God sends us our crosses, and if we love Jesus, we realize that this cross is God's Way in Christ of purifying us and making us like our Lord.

Today, do I love and welcome my cross? Can I say, as the Apostle Andrew said when they led him to his final cross, "O beloved cross! I rejoice to see you erected here. I come to you with a peaceful conscience and with cheerfulness, desiring that I, who am a disciple of Him who hung on the cross, may be crucified. The nearer I come to the cross, the nearer I come to God."

We have many crosses before our final cross comes. But like all the martyrs who've gladly accepted their final crosses, going to be with their Lord with joy, I want to accept and embrace and love my crosses today, whatever they are.

Bring them on, Lord Jesus, because I want to be like you. Give me the love and grace to persevere, and to be prepared to give up my own life for You, as You gave up Yours for me.

^{Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike}