Take up your cross daily and follow Jesus Part 2/3.

Practical Applications— The Cross in Practice with examples from the life of Rees Howells.

In Part 1 we considered the biblical basis for taking up your cross daily and following Jesus. We then did a quick biography of Rees Howells: Intercessor, a man whose life demonstrated day by day what it is to take up your cross daily and follow Jesus.

A) Control (Self-Will)

Luke 22:42 (NKJV)“Not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Example: Rees surrendered his life direction completely.

Cross expression: Yield decisions and release control.

B) Possessions and Security

Matthew 6:24 (NKJV)“You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Example: He travelled without money for a train ticket, trusting God many time for provision. Cross expression: Trust God beyond visible provision.

C) Reputation and Pride

Philippians 2:7 (NKJV)“He made Himself of no reputation…”

Example: Rees appeared before the nobility without a hat (a major faux pas), risking serious misunderstanding.

Cross expression: Rees accepted the  loss of recognition.

D) Obedience in Small Things

Luke 16:10 (NKJV)“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.”

Example: Rees restricted his food to simple meals in obedience to God.

Cross expression: The practice of immediate obedience.

 E) Dependence vs Self-Reliance

John 15:5 (NKJV)“…without Me you can do nothing.”

Example: Rees lived without provision, relying fully on God.

Cross expression: Dependence on God over his own ability.

F) Love Through Sacrifice

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)“Bear one another’s burdens…”

Example: Rees welcomed tramps into his home.

Cross expression: Rees served sacrificially.

G) Comfort and Ease

Example: He accepted discomfort rather than ease.

Cross expression: Rees choose obedience over comfort.

H) Ownership and Rights

Example: Rees treated everything as belonging to God.

Cross expression: He lived in total surrender (stewardship).

I) Relationships

Example: Rees followed God even when relationships were often  strained especially with his parents.

Cross expression: He put Christ first always.

J) Control of Outcomes

Example: Rees obeyed God without seeing results.

Cross expression: He operated in faith without sight.

K) Consistency Over Time

Example: Rees lived this out over years.

Cross expression: Rees lived a daily cross-bearing.

Amen

Personal prayer

In Part 3 we consider the key stages of how the self-life of Rees Howells was dealt with by taking up his cross daily.