Luke 14:26 My Cross on My BACK not round My NECK!

Jesus asks those who come after him to take up their cross and follow him. Similar to Luke 9:23...which was one of the scripture memory verses that I was so familiar with.

Recently, in preparation for a sharing, I revisited this passage Luke 14:25-33 which talks about the cost of discipleship. It's nothing new..yet, as I pondered upon it, the Lord spoke!

"My Dear Child, when you came to me, when you accepted me as your Saviour so many years ago, I have given you not only my precious promises...but I have given you YOUR CROSS!"

"Where is it now? My dear?"

"My Cross? You gave me a cross?"

"Yes, everyone that comes to me and accepted me as Lord, I give them EACH a CROSS, specially made for EACH of them".

"O, ya, it's here."

"Ah, I see, I see that tiny, glittering thing that hangs around your neck"....

"That ornament you wear around your neck is of similar shape to the CROSS that I have given you. Ah, you have listened to me to CARRY IT EVERYDAY....you did that literally....

and you have SHRUNK the CROSS extensively....so that it looks beautiful and cute, small and light enough to carry around your neck. Hmm.....

I see you have diamonds on it too...."

"Yes, Lord, it's precious and so costly...I PAY a HIGH PRICE for this little thing"

"Ah, you BOUGHT this little thing? Why? I have given you a FREE one."

"WHERE is the ORIGINAL CROSS that I've given you?"

"Err...it's too heavylah...I kept it in my storeroom. It not only looks horrible, it's also very inconvenient to carry it around everyday to do my work. I get starred and laughed by others when they see my silly act in balancing this BIG CROSS on my back. I look like a FOOL!"

"My Dear child, I know how you must have felt...but I went through it. How do you feel been striped half-naked and hung on the cross, scorned by all men?"

"I have gone through all these humiliation and suffering even to death just to let you know that hey, I have overcome and I can help you! I have died on my CROSS the MY FATHER gave me."

"My Dear child, did you not memorise my word? ...if anyone comes after me and does not carry his own cross he cannot be my disciple? You memorised but you didn't live it up? What is the use?"

"This Cross that I have given you is a cross that is BIG enough to sustain your weight, for you to HANG yourself on it!"

"Huh! Lord, you want me to hang myself? You want me to die kah?"

"Yes, I want you to hang your OLDSELF on this CROSS that I gave you. I want you to DIE to yourself first. "

"DIE my OLDSELF....hmm..and then?"

"Only then, I can be your LORD".

"Is that all?"

"No, I promised you A NEWSELF TOO!"

That's why I say if anyone would come after me him must DENY HIMSELF, CARRY HIS CROSS and FOLLOW ME DAILY...Lu 9:23

"Now, let me ask you again, are you willing to take up the CROSS I gave you?"

"But it's so heavy, LORD!"

"No worries, my dear Child, my grace is sufficient for you, now go, take up your cross and come with me".

"Yes, Lord."

Facebook

Recently a friend invited me to join Facebook. I am fascinated by it's high level of "intrusion" into my email address book. Wow, how does it track down so many friends of friends who are also my friends?! Whew, I felt like I'm been watched.
Anyway, it's good invention. Enable me to get in touch with the long-time-no-news friends from ages ago.

Kalau Nak, Memang Boleh!

I am marvelled by the extremely high level of effeciency of the Malaysian Police force and the Justice Dept lately. The arrest of Anwar Ibrahim with 20 excort police car, the immediate judiciary decision on Raja Petra...whew! it has changed my opinion of the police force and judiciary system in the country over night.

Why did I have such opinion that our police and justice dept are "slow"? May be they are not ineffective actually just that they don't see a point to "perform"....well, especially when it comes to very low profile case like this that happen to a helpless lady.....a dear friend of mine was attacked in her office two years ago, seriously injurred with stitches all over her scalp. Her case did not get resolved until early this year after more than 5 times of postponements due to absent of public prosecutor from the police department. The attacker was free on less than RM1000 bail all the while.

After 17 July, I am convinced that our country's police force and judiciary department can actually "deliver their duties" (whether they do the right thing or not that's another issue).

Like my dad thought me, if there's a will there's a way, kalau nak memang boleh...if our uncle police want to 'show off' their mightiness...at the blow of whistle...they will do so. The same with the majestrate courts etc....no need to wait long longlah.....I wish we the common Malaysians get the equal and immediate "attention" from our police and judiciary systerm when we need them.

My dad reminded me again, child....depends on who blow the whistlelah........