(Matthew 8:34-35)…..When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Take Up His Cross
The Christian is to take up his cross and follow Jesus. What does that mean? It means to voluntarily and decisively accept the pain, shame, and persecution that is going to be one’s particular calling: his, not someone else’s lot because of his loyalty to Christ and his cause. It is also to cheerfully receive, and patiently bear, every affliction and evil, however shameful and painful it may be, which is appointed for him, and he is called unto; which is his peculiar cross, as every Christian has his own; to which he should quietly submit, and carry, with an entire resignation to the will of God, in imitation of his Lord.
The cross is to be born “daily”, to gladly endure whatever hardship one may receive in service to Christ!
How Is It Manifested
In the case of the apostles it is shown in what they all endured (1 Corinthians 4:9-13). In what Paul in particular endured (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). In our case, it may involve being: ridiculed (1 Peter 4:4), reviled (spoken evil of, excluded) (1 Peter 4:4) (Matthew 5:11) (Luke 6:22), and reproached (1 Peter 4:14). All the while, rejoicing that one is honored to suffer for Christ (1 Peter 4:16) (Acts 5:40-42). With a willingness to deny self and bear one’s own cross on a daily basis.