Living in the Shadow of the Cross

I'm reading a little book (only 79 pages) entitled "The Shadow of the Cross: Studies in Self-Denial" by Walter Chantry. It is a horrible, interfering, convicting book and I highly recommend it. It may be a little book, but it is not an easy read. I've been reading it for nearly three weeks now and I'm only on chapter two. There's just way too much to digest and way too much searching of the heart that accompanies the reading--no way to skim through this one!

In Chapter 2, entitled "Take Up Your Cross" (Luke 9:23-24, Chantry shows that firstly, the demand of bearing a cross is universal--a demand made of all who claim the name of Christ. He says "it is an absolute impossibility to be a Christian without self-denial." (p21)

Secondly, it is perpetual."One's cross is not a disposable item of Christian experience but a life-long burden in this world." (p22) Ugh. Unfortunately, it doesn't get any easier or better.

Thirdly, bearing a cross is painful. Chantry says that Christ suffered great inward pains as well as the physical pain of crucifixion and that is the focus of Christ's teaching in this passage to us and that much of the time, the crosses we bear are deep inward pains that are not publicly visible--"they are unseen by all but your heavenly Father." (p.24)

Fourthly, taking up your cross must be intentional. Gotta quote him here..."There are great afflictions for God's people which are imposed by providence...These are trials, but not crosses. A cross must be taken up by the one whose self is to be denied painfully...It is the conscious choice of a painful alternative motivated by love for Christ. It may be preceded by an inward struggle similar to that which our Lord knew in Gethsemane. But it is a voluntary choice." (p 24-25)

Lastly, he says that the taking up of a cross is mortal, it is deadly. "Put to death self-importance, self-satisfaction, self-absorption, self-advancement, self-dependence...Death to self-interest because you serve Christ's honour..." (p25)

He summarizes this section by saying,"Bearing a cross is every Christian's daily, conscious selection of those options which will please Christ, pain self, and aim at putting self to death." (p 25)

So there's a little glimpse at a litte book that is making me a "little" uncomfortable these days.

It's always much more pleasant to think about being like Jesus, imitating Christ, in His gentleness, kindness, mercy and ignore the fact that we are also called to share in His sufferings.

It is also difficult because of the fact that as fallen sinners, even those of us who are redeemed, when the tempter comes to us and says "you shall be as gods," we eagerly and enthusiastically answer "Yes! I want it to be all about me!" We are so full of self-importance, self-satisfaction, self-absorption, self-advancement, self-dependence and self-interest that the ONLY way self can be driven from our hearts is by death--death to self by taking up our cross and following our Savior.