My Simone of Cyrene

Luke 9:23

“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (NKJV)

Matthew 27:32

“Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.”

Our lives are not without burdens, troubles, and difficulties; in fact, we have been called to take up our cross and follow Christ. But we were never meant to carry it alone. Most importantly, we have been told in I Peter 5:7, “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” (AMP) Also, God has put us in communities – families, friendships, churches, small groups, etc. God puts people in our lives to help us on our journey and even with carrying our crosses, just as Simon of Cyrene carried Jesus’ cross for Him. Though I’m not sure if he realized the impact of this service at the time, what a privilege is was for him to assist the Lord in such a tangible manner! And what a privilege is it for us to serve one another. I hope that someone considers me a “Simon” in his/her life.

Do you have a Simon in your life?

One of my Simons is my dad – constantly taking time out of his day to edify me with scriptures and Godly counsel, passing on strength to me through prayer and encouragement, and making me laugh through hard circumstances. Because of his support, I’ve grown stronger, and I’m better than I ever could have been.