p. 6 | Bearing the Cross by Earnest Christian

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 23, 1868

Bearing the Cross.

By Earnest Christian

Do you refuse to perform the work God would set you about, because of the trouble and responsibility involved? Many do. They love ease. But wherein do we take up the cross if we consult our own preferences merely, in what we do for the Lord? The very idea of a cross implies something contrary to our natural inclinations. And Jesus says, that to be his disciples we must take up our cross daily. Then we are not to have our choice. The irksome duties that lie just before us are the ones we must first perform. Do them for Jesus’ sake, and they will become pleasant. With Charles Wesley say:

“Thy holy will be done, not mine: Be suffered all thy holy will. I dare not, Lord, the cross decline; I will not lose the slightest ill, Or lay the heaviest burden down, The richest jewel of my crown.”

You who profess to be the children of God, you make a sad mistake when you manage to escape from responsibilities which God would lay upon you. The greatest burdens would bring the greatest blessings. If you have the true religion you will not be afraid of trouble for the sake of Jesus. You will count all things—ease, reputation, comfort—yea, life itself—but loss in comparison with the pearl of great price. If you have friends, you gladly suffer inconvenience in their behalf. Then why should you not for that friend who sticketh closer than a brother?—Earnest Christian.