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“And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene , Simon by name: him they
compelled to bear his cross.”
Matthew 27:32

I remember after having heart surgery and waking up only to find out the surgeon had to go back in because something was wrong. The surgery involved using an instrument that sort of stretched my rib cage. The recovery was excruciatingly painful and was suppose to only last two weeks but lasted over a month. The pain medicine, a narcotic, became ineffective and I could not get as much as I felt I needed. I could not lie down without tossing and turning. I would get up and walk around, fall to the floor on my hands and knees, lie on the floor, sit on floor, crawl, moaning and groaning, weeping and crying. I was soo delirious. Someone told me when she called I was talking out of my head. I was told after she said lets pray I said I didn't want to pray, I couldn't pray, I didn't feel like calling on God. I did not remember all of it but I remember this person telling me she literally felt compelled to interrupt her plans, stop what she was doing, and labored for me in prayer. Not a few words but actually labored a while.
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After the agony of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44), being arrested and struck by a solider when He questioned the High Priest (John 18:22-23), blindfolded and struck in his face repeatedly by their fist, spit on, slapped in the face (Mark 14:65), and the plucking of his beard (Isaiah 50:6) He was stripped of His clothing and then scourged with a flagrum (whip) consisting of leather straps embedded with metal, and glass fragments with small metal balls sewn into the end of each thong. The whip was brought down with full force and when struck against the back of Jesus, was pulled tearing the skin off, exposing muscle, and maybe even exposing His very bones. Jesus then had to carry his own cross to the crucifixion. Exhausted and having loss so much blood He collapsed in excruciating pain under the weight of the Cross.

God could have sent the angels to strengthen Him as he did after His 40 days and 40 nights of being tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:11) and after His battle of His will verses his Father's will in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42-43) but this time was different. His mission was almost over and there was another lesson that had to be taught to His followers.

NLT “As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene , happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.” Luke 23:26

There is nothing about the salvation plan that just happened by coincidence. Simon was not just simply passing by. Simon was chosen (Ephesians 2:10) the Romans soldiers were simply used as an outward view of what compels us inwardly when we are called to take up our cross.

Simon, going about his own business was suddenly thrust into a bloody mess. Isaiah 52:14

Look at the exchange. Jesus carrying the cross collapses under the weight of it and Simon is compelled or forced to carry the Cross. With this picture Christ presented a clear and challenging description of the Christian life. It's like God said look! This is what it looks like! To take up the cross is to carry one's own cross to the crucifixion, your crucifixion of dying to self. Dying to your own plans, personal agendas and setting aside selfish desires knowing you were bought with a price (1 Peter 1:18-19) and you are not your own.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I could only imagine Simon's initial feeling was to be upset for being forced to stop what he was doing. But after seeing upfront the horrible pain of Jesus suffering, if Simon was privileged to hear Jesus teaching, “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” Matthew 5:41, he had to succumb to compassion and begin to willing carry Jesus Cross not knowing at the time that cross he carried was for him to live and never die. The same happens when you bear someone's cross. It causes them to live and never die. What a gift of love.John 15:13

According to [Merriam-Webster Learning Dictionary] a privilege is a special right, (granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor) or available only to a particular person or group of people.

Therefore through this demonstration of Jesus and Simon, it is a privilege (a special right) to be chosen by God. It is a privilege (an advantage) to be compelled by the Holy Spirit, and it is a privilege (a peculiar benefit) to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily so that the whomever He places in our path might live not just eternally but also have life more abundantly here until. John 10:10

So what about you today. Like the lady whose plans were interupted and was compelled to pray for me, God has placed you in a place to be compelled by the Holy Spirit to interrupt your plans, die to self, take up your cross and be Jesus' heart, mind, hands and feet. Maybe to truly labor in prayer for someone, take care of a sick loved one, visit someone in the hospital or prison, provide transportation that's out of your way for someone, to feed someone, to share the Word with someone, (Matthew 25:44-45) or to look beyond the fault, see their need and forgive someone. (Luke 23:24) (Matthew 6:15) It may be a bloody mess but remember we are a part of God's Salvation Plan to die to ourselves that someone might live.(Romans 15:1)

God says, “________________, (insert your name) never fret about what others are not doing, the privilege has been granted to you. Simply take up your cross and follow Me. I have a plan and it involves you.

Today's Prayer

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