It Was All About A Cross

Atoning sacrifice for sin

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30

Do you believe in destiny? I do—to the extent that God has predestined His children for Kingdom work.

Jesus’ destiny was the cross. His earthly life and ministry culminated on the cross for our salvation. He loves us that much! This was the central focus of everything He did. Yet, in order for His death to mean anything, He had to choose it.

God created us with free will to choose our own path. Once we encountered the cross and became Christians, we were no longer our own. Every decision we make reflects Christ to the world.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Christianity means living much deeper than ourselves. It’s an awesome and enormous responsibility to carry the name of Jesus.

The cross was costly. When Jesus was resurrected, an enormous price had been exacted on Him. He bore the wages for our sin. This Sunday, when we celebrate His resurrection, take a moment to consider that cost. It’s too easy to become complacent in the politically correct society we live and forget the price of our redemption.

Are we willing to take up the cross of Christ and the cost it encompasses? Consider these thoughts from Jim Elliot, a martyred missionary.

“We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a Power the twentieth century does not reckon with. But we are "harmless," and therefore unharmed. We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle-to-the-death with principalities and powers in high places. Meekness must be had for contact with men, but brass, outspoken boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the Cross. We are "sideliners" -- coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous!” 

Amen!

When you analyze your life, does it resemble the world or the cross? For Jesus, it was all about the cross. As we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior on Easter morning, can we say the same?

It was all about a man

It was all about a cross

It was all about the blood that was shed

so I would not be lost

It was all about the love

That was bigger than a life

It was all about a freedom that was given

through your sacrifice

'Cause you would rather die

than to ever live without me

(by Jody McBrayer)

If you have a prayer request, I’d love to hear from you. Would you take a moment to lift up those on our prayer list and Sgt. Jesse McCart, who continues in rehab? All this information is at the top of the blog.

We’ve been praying for a beautiful young mother, Courtney, who’s battling a cancerous brain tumor. Would you take a moment to lift her up in prayer? This is from her FB page Tuesday afternoon:

Asking for prayers today. We are on our way to Duke as we speak for my MRI tonight at 8:15 and for PET scan tomorrow morning at 9:45. We will get results of both scans tomorrow at 11 AM. This will determine if the gray spot that they've been watching for several months is just scar tissue or actual tumor. Prayers would certainly be appreciated. Also, for the first time in a long time, I had a seizure last night that lasted about ten minutes. I feel very drained and have a duller sensation in my right arm and leg...more than I normally do. Always scary going through one. Just asking for prayers for safe travels, get back to 100% from my seizure and 2 excellent reports from the PET scan and MRI. The nerves are certainly kicking in. I thank you in advance!

I pray you all have a beautiful Resurrection Sunday.

God bless,

Laura J

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

©Laura Hodges Poole