Jesus commanded His followers, "Take up the cross and follow me" (Mark 10:21).  But too many of us want to go shopping for just the right cross rather than take up the cross of self-denial to which he referred.

Some people want a vinyl-padded cross that's not too heavy.  Others look for a small, flat cross which they can put out of sight when they don't want to attract attention of the fact that they are Christians.  Still others look for a jeweled cross which can make them part of the fashionable "in" crowd.

But the cross of authentic Christian discipleship is a plain, rough, wooden cross which takes a lot of effort to carry.  This is the type of cross of discipleship which we as His followers must carry.  But one important difference is that Jesus Himself has promised to stand with us and help us bear the load.  The same One who directed, "Take up the cross" also declared, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt.11:30).