by Cathy Vinson

When the focus is self-denial and the destiny points to the cross, there is one thing that needs done repeatedly..."as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem HE TOOK THE twelve Disciples ASIDE AND TOLD THEM"..."AGAIN HE TOOK the Twelve ASIDE AND TOLD THEM" (Mt 20:17; Mk 10:32). Like the child who conveniently forgets what is dreaded, the unnaturalness of the cross puts us in a continual state of needing reminded. We must be "taken aside and told."

Day after day our most natural self-love will be sure to put such a stumbling block far from us. Why? We don't want it. It's dreaded shame will certainly be put out of reach from our lives. Success is very easy. Refusing to be taken aside will result in losing its all too elusive vision before us.

What does being taken aside mean? A-side...diverting to those moments on the side of the main thoroughfare, off the major channel of duty, our own commerce and business. Being taken aside means that space for God alone, becoming "useless" before Him. Such an easy aspect to ignore! So simple to stifle this lone reminding Voice.

There is only One who takes the initiative towards His own crucifixion. It will only be Him who leads us to ours. In Mark 10:32 Jesus led, while the Disciples were astonished and the crowd who followed were afraid. Only Jesus reminds us about our cross. We cannot count on anyone else to encourage its destiny (see Mt 16:22). Those of us who will keep reminded will appear to be ridiculously LEADING the entourage to our crucifixion, but we will merely be following the One who has taken us aside.

(Matthew 20:17; Mark 10:32)