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The United Methodist Hymnal · No. 415 · Words: Charles W. Everest · Tune: GERMANY
Take Up Thy Cross
Create PowerPoint slides from this hymn →A call to Christian discipleship written by Charles W. Everest in 1833, drawn from Jesus's invitation to deny oneself and follow him. Each stanza addresses a different barrier—fear, pride, shame—urging the believer to embrace the cross as the path to salvation.
Verse 1
“Take up thy cross,”
the Savior said,
“if thou wouldst my
disciple be;
deny thyself,
the world forsake,
and humbly follow
after me.”
Verse 2
Take up thy cross,
let not its weight
fill thy weak
spirit with alarm;
his strength shall bear
thy spirit up,
and brace thy heart
and nerve thine arm.
Verse 3
Take up thy cross,
nor heed the shame,
nor let thy
foolish pride rebel;
thy Lord for thee
the cross endured,
to save thy soul
from death and hell.
Verse 4
Take up thy cross
and follow Christ,
nor think till death
to lay it down;
for only those
who bear the cross
may hope to wear
the glorious crown.
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