“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24
If any man be willing to come after me – none is forced, but if any will be a Christian, it must be on these terms: Let him deny himself, and take up his cross–a rule that can never be too much observed. Let him in all things deny his own will, however pleasing, and do the will of God, however painful.
Should we not consider all crosses, all things grievous to flesh and blood, as what they really are, as opportunities of embracing God’s will at the expense of our own? And consequently, as so many steps by which we are perfected? We should make a swift progress in the spiritual life if we were faithful in this practice.
Crosses are so frequent, that whoever takes advantage of them, will soon be a great gainer. Great crosses are occasions of great improvement, and the little ones, which come daily, and even hourly, make up in number what they want in weight. We may in these daily and hourly crosses make effectual oblations of our will to God, which oblations, so frequently repeated, will soon amount to a great sum.
Let us remember then (what can never be sufficiently inculcated) that God is the author of all events: that none is so small or inconsiderable, as to escape His notice and direction. Every event therefore declares to us the will of God, to which thus declared we should heartily submit. We should renounce our own to embrace it. We should approve and choose what His choice warrants as best for us. Herein should we exercise ourselves continually. This should be our practice all the day long. We should in humility accept the little crosses that are dispensed to us, as those that best suit our weakness. Let us bear these little things, at least for God’s sake, and prefer His will to our own in matters of so small importance. And His goodness will accept these mean oblations; for He despiseth not the day of small things.
