The Implications of the Cross
Christians need to stop being vague when sharing Christ. Quit with the “You need Jesus” without ever bothering to tell people what that means. Jesus isn’t a vague concept. He’s RATHER specific.
Deny yourself.
Take up your cross.
Follow Him.
Deny yourself: get sober. Stop being selfish. Control your temper. Love difficult people. Trade in immediate gratification for eternal gain. All of this is what Christ commands.
Take up your cross: TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for the things God puts into your hands and give life your absolute ALL. Why? Because it’s all a gift from the Lord’s hands, even (and often especially) your suffering.
Follow Him: STOP letting comfort, ease, and self-gratification guide you. Your life ISN’T ABOUT YOU. Your life, if you make it about you, will be empty and tasteless when you arrive near the end. Following Christ means sacrificing the momentary pleasure for the long term good, and you best know what the term “good’ MEANS.
Grasping the Lord’s definition of “good” puts us in a position to be effective when we’re merciful, gracious, and generous. It keeps us from being used and abused by the malicious so that our efforts go to those the Lord wants to reach with His love *flowing through us*.
Are you telling people to keep their eyes on Christ during a time of crisis? Great. Do that, but you better be prepared to tell them what that means because it’s not some vague platitude. Being a Christian has deep and powerful implications. It’s not some fluffy definitionless void of feel good vibes. Leave that nonsense for the new age humanists. It has no place inside the church.
Take a long look at the cross because right there is where you see what it means TO FOLLOW CHRIST: momentary sacrifice FOR PERMANENT GODLY GAIN.
Standing upon that foundation is where the church finds its fire to do good to those who hate it. That’s what was done at the cross: provision made for those who cared nothing for Christ. That is where we find a clear view to loving our enemies even as they scream out their hatred. That is where we find the inner steel to stand against wickedness, not just from *some other people over there* that we’re not associated with. No, but *first and foremost* from our own people, people we often generally admire and care for.
No one said being a Christian was easy or painless. Have you met the man who was crucified that we may live? That’s the man we all follow. Learn it.
The resolve to do good in the face of hatred, the power to love those who hate you, be they inside of outside of the church, it comes from understanding that Christ loved us while we were lost, while we were wicked, while we shunned Him. When we see ourselves for who we have been, we can then be empowered to become who Christ YEARNS for us to be. We can then love as Christ has loved.
Love never fails. It never has. It never will. If ever there was a time to boldly preach to the body that we must LOVE OUR ENEMIES, NOW is that time.
Soli Deo Gloria.
