The Cross of Christ

"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1st Corinthians 1:17-18


We live in a time where everything we say has to be measured. Obama, Clinton, and all the rest are saying the things they think people want to hear. They watch the polls, listen to their professional advisors and then speak. Religion and spirituality are the same nowadays. The majority of the population is so attached to their "freedom" that they only follow a religion that seems to fit what they are looking for. A religion or a belief that tells them that all they do is ok, they don't need to repent of anything or change their ways. Preachers and churches have to adapt just to keep the people coming. But this message from Paul fills me with so much conviction! It is not God that needs to change and cater to the morally decaying beliefs of our day, we are the ones that need to open our eyes and see that the truth is a bloody and violent one - Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Son of the Living God, was brutally beaten and killed to save us from the sins we would like to hold on to today! The truth of the cross, so that it is not emptied of its meaning, is that Jesus was handed over to death by His friends. He was spit on. He was laughed at. He was scourged with whips that had tied to them pieces of bone so that muscles and flesh would be ripped off in chunks with each lashing. On raw skin He was made to carry that cross to calvary and there He was nailed to it, gasping for air as the cool wind pierced His skin and the blood from the crown of thorns dripped down His face and pooled around His eyes. There He died so that you and I could be free… free of the hate, jealousy, addictions, gossip, and immoralities that we are so very attached to, as if what He did was not necessary.

We want to hear God loves us but not that we are called to holiness. We want to know that God listens to us when we need Him to, but don't want to listen to Him when He needs us to. Always, always remember the price Jesus paid for your life on the cross. The mystery of the cross is that it represents life and life is freedom from the pain and shame of the vices we hold on to. Freedom is NOT casual sex, occasional drug use, getting wasted and then covering up for those mistakes. The consequences of these things are what Jesus went to the cross for.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, forgive my arrogance in wanting to live my life in the way I see fit. You are my Creator and only You know how to give me what's best for me. Be with me as I struggle to keep Your cross before my eyes, and keep sin behind me. In Your Name we pray, amen.