Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Isaiah 1:1-2:22 2nd Corinthians 10:1-18 Proverbs 22:26-27

“Take Up Your Cross”

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,…”
[Philippians 1:29]

We need to have a definition of what “taking up one’s cross” is. “Taking up one’s cross” is willingly taking on, and bearing the hatred of the devil, the world, the flesh, sin, death, etc., for the sake of the Word and faith. Here there is no need to choose the cross. Just begin with the first part of this life and deny yourself, that is, denounce the righteousness of your works and confess Christ. Hypocrites will condemn this action, and defend their own righteousness, but they are not taking up the cross, they are killers of those that carry Christ’s love and righteousness around this life.