Matthew 11:30 “For MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light.”
This Blessed Burden!
While bicycling, an older soul with a near empty backpack, saw three small crosses off the side of a country road.
Though in the distance, they stood with obvious reference to Calvary.
And upon drawing closer, these plain wooden markers were found nameless…except for CHRIST’s.
Then, at that moment of passing by them, so my thoughts drifted back to that blessed hour…when HE laid HIS life down for us!
What privilege and blessing to be covered and cleansed by the blood of the LAMB forever!
Now having crested that small hill, I began to coast.
No more peddling and with the carefree nature of a young boy…
…so I raised my hands in fervent praise as both physical and spiritual winds swept through me.
The tires of this wheeled vehicle beneath me hummed in tune with my worship songs and I felt unburdened…as if soaring above!
Then rounding the curve in the road, I quickly sensed the angle beginning to increase.
Even so, I drifted until my momentum slowed significantly and with no one behind me…
…I came to a stop on the gravel paved side of the roadway.
Just like a child who gleefully rode their sled down a steep, snow-
covered hill, at the bottom comes the unwelcome truth.
I have to climb back up.
But yet basking in this experience with GOD, I chose to close my eyes, clinging to the now recent and wondrous memory.
Whether a minute or two passed, I couldn’t tell but a strong gust of wind shook me as an electric vehicle passed — accelerating up the hill.
As such, when my eyes opened fully, something to the right of me caught my attention.
Looking further into the line of towering oak trees that paralleled this country highway,
I saw what took my breath and bid me walk over towards it.
Leaving the bike behind, so my steps soon covered the short distance into the wooded opening.
There stood another cross appropriately stationed at the bottom of this hilly section of pavement.
But unlike the others which had no words on them, though the middle was undeniably HIS,
…this one had a name etched into its weathered wooden surface.
Now at first glance, it appeared generic. With a few more seconds of Complacency, I would have left — empty handed.
But GOD’s draw towards it was powerful and so I reached down to trace each bold letter of the visible name.
“Yours” was what my eyes beheld and instantly a more powerful and most holy gust swept through me!
Staggered by the impact, I knelt down to steady myself and in so doing, placed my forehead on the top of the wood.
Then HIS still voice softly thundered through me and I wept.
“This is your cross, MY Child. This is yours to carry.
I’ve placed it here in this low valley with great purpose to grow you.
Let’s now go together upwards in hand and lo, I am with you — even to the end of this age.”
I continued to cry for several minutes but not out of worry or not wanting to have to climb up the “mountain” again.
HE’d spoken to me through HIS WORD and now here and my heart once more raced with great zeal!
While yet kneeling, my hands firmly grasped the assignment before me and with no small effort, removed it from the stone littered soil.
Finally, slowly standing once again, I carefully placed that blessed cross into my backpack.
Turning then to return and pick up my bicycle, I whispered through joyful tears.
I will and again have taken up my cross, oh my LORD, to follow YOU!
As HIServant carrying my cross beside of while serving you,
Whitney
Devotional: Luke 9:23 “And HE said to all, “If anyone would come after ME, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily…and follow ME!”
Ride onward then!
Yea, run forwards and upwards in the great calling of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST!
Amen and amen!
2CJC 