Reader, yours, like his, may be the cross of ridicule, of your friend’s laughter at the things of God; and a bitter cross it is to bear! But try and look upon it as a cross laid upon you by your Saviour, a cross which He has borne before you up that bitter hillside of Calvary. Remember it is not merely that you are called upon to bear the cross, but, like Simon of Cyrene, that you should "bear it _after_ Jesus." Therefore ask Him to give you strength to take up your cross daily, cheerfully and lovingly, and bear it after Him. Then self-denial will be less hard for you to practise than it is now. I do not say it will be pleasant, for that it can never be, but the sting of it will be taken away; indeed for the Christian, it long ago was taken away and laid on Him Who bore the burden of our sins on Calvary. So let yours be a life of obedience here, a living for others, a pleasing of others, not of yourself; "For even Christ pleased not Himself[#]," but "was made sin for us, Who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God through Him[#]." [#] Rom. xv. 3. [#] 2 Cor. v. 21. *HUMILITY.* "Fain would I my Lord pursue, Be all my Saviour taught; Do as Jesus bids me do, And think as Jesus thought: But ’tis Thou must change the heart, The perfect gift must come from Thee: Meek Redeemer, now impart Thine own humility. Let Thy Cross my will control, Conform me to my Guide; In Thine Image mould my soul, And crucify my pride; Give me, Lord, a broken heart, A heart that always looks to Thee: Meek Redeemer, now impart Thine own humility." _Toplady._