2006 Conference Theme: Surrender and Take Up Your Cross Daily
By Winnie Cheung

“Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

Our sinful nature makes it extremely difficult for us to obey God. We make decisions based on our sinful desires. There are times that we are in agreement with God’s commandments, but without any action, it is not obedience at all.

We do not want to obey God because we always want to be in take control.  This is the sin that Adam and Eve committed when they were in the garden of Eden. They wanted to be independent from God, and we some times feel the same way.  In contrast, God wants us to rely on Him and in every step to be dependent on Him.

In Hebrews 5:8-9 the author wrote “Although he(Jesus) was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

Jesus experienced obedience through suffering; we need to learn obedience through our life situations (both in good times and in bad times); and we need to admit that He is God.  In that way, we can surrender our lives to Him and take up our cross daily.

In our society, self, self-interest, and self-love are not viewed as a great evil. However, in Matt 10:38 and Luke 14:27 Jesus said ‘anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me’ and ‘anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.’

Actually, surrender bears the meaning of laying down oneself (self-denial) -- that includes his treasures, dreams, goals,  ideologies, values, priorities, and worldviews. God calls us to deny the things that come from our sinful nature and be willing to adopt the things He has for us.

In Matt 6:24, Jesus said, “No one can serve two master; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. We cannot serve God and wealth."

In this winter, may all of us learn how to surrender and take up our cross daily to impact our generation for God.