“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” -Matthew 16:24-25

A cross is not meant to be a weight, or merely an exercise in holiness.

A cross is for crucifixion, and he that is to bear his cross is to bear it with the intent to die to himself.

It is not meant to weigh down, but to free. It is not meant to enslave, but to liberate.

Why would you only carry your cross to make both your body and soul miserable - your body, because its lingering lusts still twitch in selfishness; your soul, because it cannot obtain the victory of resurrection that comes after crucifixion.

“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” -Romans 6:5-6

You will feel better when you’re dead.

Think not that I speak of physical death, but of a death of your fleshly life, and its accompanying desires. A death of the lusts of the flesh, which make a continual warring against the Spirit.

“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” -Romans 6:7

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