Carrying The Cross (David's Story)

I met a brother in the Lord yesterday afternoon on my lunch break. His name is David. David accepted the Lord coming out of a mormon home. His family wouldn't let him stay at home because he is a christian. He carries a wooden cross on his shoulder everywhere he goes.
After going to "The Call" down in San Diego during the week of prayer and fasting, he felt called by the Spirit to travel the country by foot and share the gospel through song, and evangelism. I was amazed that a 22 year old would take a step like this to walk through the doors that the Lord opens in his life.
As you can imagine he gets a lot of disrespect because of carrying his cross in public. He gets kicked out of malls, out of shopping centers, etc. He even has been asked to leave some churches because of the cross that he carries. He was crushed last night because they would not let him stay for church. He felt like the world has pushed him out, and now the church itself. The one place in the whole world that should be supporting him and praying for him has denied him.

I wonder if this is how Jesus felt.

I asked him why he would not just leave the cross outside or something, and it didn't seem to be an option for him. David won't even put the cross into the trunk of the car. He holds it with him. When he sleeps he won't lay it down, he stands it upright. He clings to this cross!

"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:38

'Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.' Matthew 16:24


David encouraged me a whole heck of a lot. We are called to press on toward the goal, we are called to die daily, and we are called to follow Jesus. Take a vacation, but never take a vacation from carrying your cross. Rest a while, but never rest from allowing the Spirit to break your heart for the lost. No turning back, remember?

"Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day." 1 Chronicles 16:23