April 5 ~ Dr. Tom Milam He Leadeth Me Devotional

“Bearing His Cross”

Luke 23:26 

We, as believers, bear the cross after Jesus. He fell under the load on purpose, that we might become in unity with Him bearing it together. Christ takes the lead and we follow in the same responsibility, to suffer. He bore the cross, not that we wouldn’t have to, but that we may be a partaker with Him in enduring it. By His death, burial and resurrection our sins are forgiven, but many sorrows we will need to endure as He did. Remember, “those that live Godly shall suffer,”. But also remember this, we did not make our own cross to carry, but it is His cross we endure. It is His cross you carry when others say that you are a fanatical slaughter-house religionist. When you are mocked for actually believing that Christ is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. Is it not a great blessing and wonderful privilege to bear the cross of Jesus Christ! What better company could we be in, than sharing the cruel mocking’s of Him that is leading the way. We follow the marks of blood on the cross and splattered from the lonely Garden of Gethsemane to Calvary’s hill, where it fell with a thud into its socket, bearing our Lord. He went before us as was prophesied, “a sheep before her slaughterers,” and yet our shepherd leading the way for us to follow in the partnership of unity. Our responsibility is simply to follow, that means we bear the lighter end of the heavy cross. We, like Simon, only get to bear the cross for a little while and a short distance, but it’s lasting impression lets us stand with eternal honor that will never end, with a crown and everlasting glory.

“Finally Heaven”

Jesus bore the front-end of the cross, 

The part where He laid His head.

We bring up the foot-end, 

And bowing with Him dread; 

O, to follow with Him

And to suffer with Him there, 

Honor it is my friend,

And finally Heaven with Him share.

                                    ~Tom Milam

Daily Jewel:

“....it is His cross we endure....”

Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Samuel 14-16

Weekly Memory Verses: Hebrews 4:9-13

Hebrews 4:9-13 ~ 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 ¶Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.  KJV