Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
Mark 8:34
If you sacrifice yourself, many people will come to your side. If Jesus were crucified due to his own crime, would all humanity be sympathetic with him? But because Jesus was crucified for the sake of the sin of all mankind, he won the hearts of all mankind. Many saints and prophets went through difficulties, but we cannot imagine anything more difficult than to be crucified on the cross. How valuable was his patience in the face of opposition and betrayal, as well as his love for other people at the sacrifice of himself! When we practice these two elements, there will be peace, love, happiness, and all ideals.
Human beings have been separated from God due to the Fall, but that kind of love, service, and sacrifice can restore the link between man and God, between Fallen man and Jesus Christ. This is the principle that Jesus taught us with his own deeds: patience and living for others. You face both inner and outer struggles. You must win the inner struggle. Whenever enemies come against you, you must be able to win over them by being patient and serving them.
The Opportunity for Happiness or Unhappiness
March 2. 1975
Father, Your will to raise up Jesus Christ and to be proud of him was passed down in history through the disciples and connected to us today. Please let us understand that You are hoping for Your Will to bear fruit through us.
Now please let us become sacrifices to resolve the bitterness of heaven and earth, the bitterness of all things of creation, and the bitterness of Jesus Christ. We earnestly hope and desire, Father, that You will allow us to become children with filial hearts who devote themselves heart and soul.
Father! Let us realize that today each one of us, and all of us together, have the responsibility to resolve the grief of heaven. Let us understand that it is we ourselves who must bring to an end the battle to resolve heaven's bitterness. Since we have realized this, please let us have the mind to accomplish more than anyone else, and to be grateful to You alone, Father.
May we be grateful, even though we are carrying a cross. Even though we fight with billions of satans, do not permit us to become unmanly people in front of You, Father. Even though we are carrying a cross and standing in a difficult position, lead us to become children who can say, "Father, I'm here, so don't worry" Earnestly we pray that You will mold us into children who offer comfort to our Father, who is in sorrow over seeing his children in difficult situations. We pray all these things in the name of the Lord.
Prayer
May 16, 1956
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