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From the April, 1998 edition of The Doulos monthly newsletter by Loren Price Are You Shortening Your Cross? The Christian life at times can be difficult. But many times it wouldn't be as difficult if it weren't for our own sense of strength, thinking that we can handle things on our own, instead of turning things over to Christ. We need to come to the realization that until we turn our "whole life" over to Christ, we do not give Him complete rule of our lives. In the Scriptures we find, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34). I interpret the phrase "this cross" to refer to every aspect of our lives; our strength, our pride, our thought life, our speech, etc, any of these that we don't take up and give over to Christ shortens our cross and is left behind. I would encourage each of you who reads this to know that we would be able to more effectively worship, witness and minister in a way that would glorify the Lord if we would give Him complete rule of our lives. Here is a story of what can happen if we shorten our cross. The Shortened Cross (Author Unknown) A pilgrim was making his way to the Promised Land. He was carrying his master's cross, a burden he cheerfully accepted. Becoming weary, the pilgrim paused to rest. As he basked in the sunlight, he watched a woodsman nearby hew a tree in the forest. "Good friend," called the pilgrim, "may I use your ax to shorten my cross? As I journey it grows heavier". "Indeed," cried the woodsman, and without hesitation, he obliged. The pilgrim traveled on, making much progress. The cross was shorter now, and his burden lighter. In no time at all, the Promised Land was in sight. Drawing near, he saw that a deep gulf separated him from the glories beyond. He would use the cross to span the divide. Though he struggled mightily to span the divide with the cross, it fell short by the very amount he had removed Suddenly, with tears streaming down his face, he awoke; it had been a dream. Clutching the cross to his breast, the pilgrim pressed on. The cross was just as heavy, but its burden was lighter.
In Christ, Loren Price
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