Matthew 27:32 “As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.”

I bet Simon had no idea when he journeyed to Jerusalem that he would be doing this. As far as we know he had no connection to Jesus. He was just a bystander in the crowd watching Jesus and the other two criminals carry a wooden beam to Golgotha to be crucified. Perhaps he had seen this scene before on a previous trip to Jerusalem. After all, it wasn’t like this was the first time the Romans had crucified someone.

Moms and Dads, take a minute and paint the picture for your kids about this verse. They may be just minding their own business at school or play and all of a sudden they are faced with the decision – do I carry the cross of Christ or not? When someone insults their Savior what do they do? When someone questions a Biblical truth they know to be true, what do they do?

They may never be called on to carry a physical cross like Simon and feel the blood of Christ run down their face, but they will, if they take a stand for Him, feel the weight of loyalty. Our children, perhaps as no other generation thus far, will be faced with the absolute disdain for Christ and what He stands for. They will have to make that choice to carry the cross.

How are you preparing them to do that? Are you teaching them the deep truths of Scripture so they will recognize falsehood? Are you teaching them how to respond when someone questions their faith? Show them how to be strong in the face of adversity. Show them how to bear the cross.