Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

If we have come to God through Christ, we indeed are living in Jesus and He is living in us. We must take the cross of discipleship, the cross of persecution, the cross of obedience under all circumstances. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). Have you and I taken this cross to follow Jesus?

Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
Show Thy face and all is bright.

We may not always think of our cross in these terms, but the world will desert us and even defame us. There is no question about this for even to “desire to live godly in Christ Jesus” will bring persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). We can’t depend on fellow-humans to understand or approve, but still we will follow Jesus our Lord! If we are in fellowship with God, regardless of what friends and family may do, we will still follow and fully submit to our beloved God!

Man may trouble and distress me,
Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ‘tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ‘twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

Even if others may “trouble and distress” us, we will find refuge in Christ our Lord! Regardless of the “trials” of life that may come, let us realize that God’s eternal rest will be worth it all! If we receive the love of God, so that even grief will not take us from the welcome arms of our Savior! Even joy or happiness will not pull us from the Lord if that joy is not in harmony with our Lord!

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure,
With Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee Abba Father,
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.

Let us commit ourselves to this: Fame and treasure may go! Disaster, scorn, and pain may come because of Christ! Even pain is our “pleasure” if that pain comes in our service to the Lord. Any “loss” will be “gain” if only we may find the pleasure and acceptance of our God. Here the son seems twisted for Jesus is not One whom we call “Abba, Father.” This is reserved for God, the Father of our Lord Jesus (Romans 8:15). Nevertheless, we place our trust in God, though storms may surround us. All will work together for good (Romans 8:28).

Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine?

Our “full salvation” will come although we face sin, fear, and care. Regardless of the circumstances, joy will come in Jesus (cf. John 15:11). Let us remember that the Holy Spirit lives in us, if we belong to God. Further, let us rejoice in the “smiles” of God as well! If Jesus died for us, we can rejoice! Let us renounce all “repining” and sadness for God’s love and fellowship are ours.

Haste thee on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

With faith and prayer daily, we will serve Christ in His grace and look for His coming glory (Colossians 3:4). We look forward to eternity that will come by the grace of God. We will soon finish our “earthly mission”—our time on earth in this brief life. Our “pilgrim days” will be in the past as we enter eternal rest! We will leave hope and find “glad fruition” or fulfillment! Our faith will lead to sight and our prayer will bring eternal praise!

Thus, we can sing this song with new meaning and will the joy of the Lord in our hearts as we face trials here that will issue in eternal glory! Praise be to our God! –Richard Hollerman

Henry F Lyte, 1824

[This song has been a favorite of mine for many years. I think that you will find it meaningful as well—whether you learn to sing it or use it as a poem. If you are a disciple, devoted to Jesus and walking in His ways, it will touch your heart. As you speak or sing this to Jesus Christ and God, it will express the thought and commitment of your heart. May the Lord help us to live out the meaning of these words by Henry Lyte.]