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(Heb.4:14–5:6; Mark 8:34–9:1) “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). You cannot follow the Lord the Crusader without a cross; and all those who follow Him will certainly come with a cross. What is this cross? All kinds of inconveniences, hardships and sorrows that arise both from outside and from within on the path of conscientious fulfillment of the Lord’s commandments in life in accordance with the spirit of His instructions and requirements. Such a cross is so intertwined with a Christian that where there is a Christian, there is this cross, and where this cross is not, there is no Christian. All-round benefits and a life of pleasure do not suit a true Christian. His task is to cleanse and correct himself. He is like a patient who needs to do cauterizations and cuttings, but how can this be done without pain? He wants to escape from the captivity of a strong enemy; How can this happen without struggle and wounds? He must go against all the orders around him, and how can he endure this without inconvenience and embarrassment? Rejoice, feeling the cross on yourself, for this is a sign that you are following the Lord, the path of salvation to paradise. Be patient a little. This is the end and crowns! You might be interested in: