Take Up Your Cross

By Rob Heverling (robhev@yahoo.com)

Used with Permission

Steve is standing up front moving boxes around as if he is cleaning up when his friend Nate walks into the scene carrying a big heavy cross.

Nate- (out of breath) Hey Steve!

Steve - Hey Nate (looking at Nate curiously) uh...what are you doing with that cross Nate?

Nate - Oh this thing. (Struggling to talk as he drags the cross across the floor) Well I have been doing a lot of reading lately. You see I decided the other day that I needed to do more for Jesus. So one of the things I decided to do more of was read the bible.

Steve - Oh! Well that's great sounds like you have finally realized that the bible is important to the believer. But why the cross?

Nate - Well I was reading about some of the things Jesus said and this one verse really stood out...I think it was in Matthew, where Jesus says, "if anyone wishes to come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me". I read that and thought Hey that's me...I want to follow Jesus so I went out and made this beauty in the back yard and well now I'm following Jesus just like he said I should.

Steve - Nate I don't think that is quite what Jesus had in mind when he said you should take up your cross.

Nate - huh, what do you mean?

Steve- Well Nate what I think Jesus was saying is if you want to follow him you need to deny or forget about the things that you want and think more about doing things the way God wants you too. That's what he meant Nate about taking up your cross; he was talking about sacrificing your life for him. You got part of it right though, your in the word God wants us all in his word because that's where we learn how God wants us to live, you were just a little off on your interpretation of what it was really saying.

Nate - Oh...so you’re saying I really don't need the cross.

Steve - That would be correct Nate.

Nate turns and heads quickly up the center isle dragging the cross.

Steve - Nate where are you going?

Nate - I have to get this home quick, I didn't have any wood around the house so I kind of used parts of my neighbors fence to make it. If I hurry, I may be able to put it back together before he gets home from work. I'll talk to you later.

The end