Give Us This Day Our Daily Crosses

Acts 27:27-44
Luke 9:18-27
The words of Jesus in Luke 9:23 are familiar to us. “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” I imagine that normally we think of taking up our crosses as a difficult thing, a burden that we undertake for Jesus’ sake. But in Acts I believe that Paul demonstrates taking up his cross in a different way. Even at the height of a terrible storm, after 14 days with no food and no real certainty as to what will happen next (at least on the part of his shipmates; Paul knows they will not die), the apostle celebrates what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. “After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves” (Acts 27:36). In this simple act of thanking God and breaking bread Paul takes up his cross, his identity as a Christian.

The language of Acts echoes that of the last supper where Jesus, too, took bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to others. Communion has become for the church a source of encouragement and hope, just as it was on board the storm-tossed boat. But there are other ways to take up our crosses daily and follow Jesus. Understanding our resources to be gifts to us from God is a profound way of identifying with Jesus. Hospitality, care for those in need, and sharing the good news of the gospel are other ways we may take up our crosses daily. Worship on the Lord’s Day, service to the wider community, and prayers for the world are as well. These are not necessarily difficult tasks, but they do demand discipline and they do require us to be open about our faith.

Paul was willing to take up his cross, even in the midst of a raging sea. Are we willing to do so in the midst of our day to day lives? When we do so we make ourselves known as disciples of Jesus Christ. And in our storm-tossed world that can be a powerful message of hope.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to live as your people each and every day and to make our faith known to the world, that others may be encouraged and led to know you better. Amen.