I. Matt. 10:38,39--Read
A. Ira Stanphill (Composer and Lyrist, 1914- ), created his gospel
songs from his varied experiences during his life. As a child,
he traveled by covered wagon from Arkansas to New Mexico, then
later moved to Oklahoma and Kansas. He began preaching at age22
in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas. At 17 he wrote his first
Gospel Song. He employs the unusual practice of creating a text
from titles suggested from the congregation during a service.
He explains:
"The basic reason I have written songs is that I love
God and Christ has loved me. Most of my songs are the outgrowth
of real experiences. I think they appeal to people because I have
had trials, heartaches, and sorrow in my own life, and I know
what I write about."
B. We are commanded to take up our cross and follow Christ.
To take up our cross, must be in definition, to be willing to
endure and to hope for, the suffering and persecution that will
be upon us--if we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We do this
by believing on him, following his word, growing as Christians,
and being the example to the world that will sometimes bring us
grief, persecution, and trials.
II. Verse 1-Read
A. "I traveled down a lonely road." Eccl. 4:10, Rom.
11:2-4--Sometimes it may seem that, because of the road that we
follow in our service to Jesus, that all have deserted us. When
we fall, we have our family of God to help. And even if they are
not available we always have Jesus with us, as long as we follow
his road for our lives.
B. "And no one seemed to care." Matthew 11:28-30, II
Cor. 1:3-7 One of the other songs in our book is "Does Jesus
Care?". This song addresses many of the times in our lives
when we feel alone, deserted, or abandoned. We need to always
be aware of the fact that if it seems no one cares, Jesus and
God will care. We may not be "rescued" from these problems
in this life, but we have assurance that we will be in the next.
C. "Burden" Ps. 55:22, Matt. 11:30, No matter how heavy
we may think our "burdens" are--if we exchange our burdens
for the light burden of following Christ-he shall sustain us,
in this life and in the one to come. Also we need to compare our
"burdens" with those of Paul, Peter, and Christ. How
ours pale in comparison!!
D. "Complained to Jesus" Numbers 11:1 We should be thankful
that God does not deal with us when we complain in the same way
that he did with the Children of Israel! Jesus, instead has left
us an example of how to endure without griping and complaining;
look at remainder of verse.
E. "Be faithful weary pilgrim" Matt. 25:21, I Tim. 1:15
The morning that we look forward to is that promise of eternal
life that we have through Jesus Christ. Being faithful to him,
lifting our cross, and following close to him, is the only way
that we can find the "morning"!
III. Verse 2-Read
A. "I'm worth a lot to thee" II Chron. 34:27 God listens
to us when we humble ourselves before him. To think that anything
that we could do would be enough to balance what God and Christ
has done for us is to live a sinful delusion!
B. "But now we'll make the journey with your hand safe in
mine." Prov. 3:20-23 To know and to follow the words of the
Lord is to walk safely and our feet will not stumble.
IV. Verse 3-Read
A. John 15:13 Christ gave his life for all of mankind. The sacrifice
of our life, in his cause, would not be repayment enough for all
that he has done, is doing and will do for us!
B. "Cup of water" Matt. 10:42, Mark 9:41
C. "But if by death to living" Rom. 6:11 Our good example
to others is just one way that we "repay" Jesus for
what he has done for us. If we do not uplift one another through
our example of attending services, help each other by word, deed,
and example, and teach all that we meet through our example, we
have not even begun to "repay" God and Jesus for what
they have done for us!
To follow means to: move behind in the same direction, to accept
as a guide or leader, to conform to, to imitate, to move forward
along a road or path, to attain to, to attend or serve, to carry
to a conclusion, and to pursue closely. Let us take each of these
and examine our following of Jesus Christ!