It leaves the cross without any clear bearer

It turns the cross into a sign of celebration

Choose the costly path of obedience instead of turning back when it becomes hard

Wait until obedience is comfortable and risk-free before acting

Leave the hard part to others and keep only the easy parts

Treat suffering as proof that the task must be abandoned

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned and that I need your mercy. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. Thank you for carrying the cross and going to the place of suffering for me. I turn from my sin and confess you as my Lord and Savior. Lead my life from this day forward. Amen.

Come to Jesus at the Cross

Lord, revive your Church. Where we have chosen comfort over obedience, awaken us. Teach us to carry the cross with Jesus, to go where you send us, and to love you more than safety. Make us faithful when the way is costly, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Wake Us to Follow You

Father, thank you for Jesus' obedience, for his willingness to bear the cross, and for the love that moved him forward. Thank you that his suffering was not empty but part of your saving work. Help me never grow numb to that gift, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thank You for the Road You Took

Pray by naming one costly step you know God may be asking of you. Ask him for courage to take it, a willing heart to keep going, and grace to obey even when the road feels heavy.

Pray for Courage to Obey

Pray for: a friend or family member carrying grief, pressure, or opposition; strength to keep going one day at a time; and a clear sense that Jesus goes with them on the hard road.

For Someone on a Hard Road

Bring these to God: your fear of pain, your pull toward comfort, and any resistance to costly obedience. Ask him to make you ready to follow Jesus with a steady heart.

A Steadier Willingness

καὶ{KE###keh###and} βαστάζων{vas-TA-zon###vahs-TAH-zohn###bearing} ⸂αὑτῷ{af-TO###ahf-TOH###his own} τὸν{TON###tohn###the} σταυρὸν⸃{stav-RON###stahv-ROHN###cross} ἐξῆλθεν{ek-SEEL-then###ehk-SEE-lthehn###he went out} εἰς{ees###ees###to} ⸀τὸν{TON###tohn###the} λεγόμενον{le-GO-me-non###leh-GOH-meh-nohn###called} Κρανίου{kra-NEE-oo###krah-NEE-oo###of a skull} Τόπον,{TO-pon###TOH-pohn###place} ⸀ὃ{HO###hoh###which} λέγεται{LE-ye-te###LEH-yeh-teh###is called} Ἑβραϊστὶ{hev-ra-is-TEE###heh-vrah-ees-TEE###in Hebrew} Γολγοθᾶ,{gol-go-THA###gohl-goh-THAH###Golgotha}

John 19:17 — LiteralTAB

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