The cost of obedience... for other people
The verse of the day in Oswald Chambers devotional book 'My Utmost for His Highest' is Luke 23:26 "As the soldiers led [Jesus] away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Jesus obeyed his Father perfectly, even to death on a cross. But a consequence of that obedience is that Simon from Cyrene was picked out from the crowd and made to carry Jesus' cross, because Jesus was too physically weak to do so.
I am familiar with the idea that becoming a Christian is costly. It is a life of self-denial and sacrificial service to God and others, it can cost you your friends, your job and even your life for some people. But Oswald Chambers writes 'If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight.' This is also true. There are benefits to being a Christian that far outweigh the costs: the salvation of our immortal souls, peace with God, hope of heaven, forgiveness of sins, gift of the Holy Spirit, being able to please God, to name just a few.
What I had not considered before was how our obedience costs others. Simon of Cyrene was simply traveling into the city from the country when he is caught up in the procession to Calvary. All of a sudden a soldier grabs him and tells him he must carry the cross of a certain condemned man. How has my obedience affected others? Or perhaps no one has been inconvenienced by my being a Christian in which case I need to ask whether I am allowing pride to get in the way, insisting upon my independence.
Chambers also writes that God will "look after after those who have been pressed into the consequence of our obedience." We are not told what happens to Simon of Cyrene after he carried the cross. Did he stay to watch the crucifixion? Did he wonder at the man who forgave those who hung him there? John Piper suggests that he might have become a well-known presence in the early church because of an extra detail in Mark 15:21 (see article here).
Just suppose that Jesus decided, out of pride, to argue with the soldier, insisting he would carry his own cross rather than be humiliated further, Simon of Cyrene would never have been drawn in, he would have gone about on his way. And, if John Piper is correct, Simon may never have been converted and involved in the early church. Likewise, we do not know how God is working in the lives of those affected by our discipleship. All we can do is obey and leave the consequences to Him.
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