Praise & Shine

What does the phrase, ‘there is power in the cross,’ mean to you?

Let’s take a look in the Bible…
In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, “If any of you want to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me…” The cross is a powerful daily reminder of how we should lives, putting others first and ourselves last.

In first Corinthians 1:18, Paul said, “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” The cross separates God’s followers from those who don’t yet know Him. If you don’t know God, the cross may seem foolish. But for people who know God, when we think of the cross, and look upon it, picturing Jesus hanging on it, and remember the crucifixion, we feel thankful and comforted because we know we are God’s children.

The message of the cross draws a line between the people who know God and the people who need to.

In Colossians 2:13-14 Paul wrote, “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”

Hebrews 12:2, “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.” Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

And back in Luke 9:26, Jesus says, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.”

The cross is a simple upright post with a transverse bar and was used to crucify Jesus Christ. It’s a symbol of death, but also so much more. Death and life, hate and love, violence and peace, accusation and forgiveness, sin and purity, brokenness and wholeness, all is lost yet everything is gained, destruction and restoration, defeat and victory. Once the cruelest form of execution, yet now a symbol of abundant life.

When we say there is power in the cross, we’re not talking about the cross at all. We’re talking about the power of Jesus who loved us and gave us our forgiveness at the cross.

The phrase, ‘there is power in the cross,’ is just another way for us to describe and picture the powerful love of our God.

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Some days I feel like I am at the end of my rope. It seems that every decision I make is the wrong one. I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place…can you relate?

Through my struggles, I’m reminded of how Job was tormented by Satin. But Satin couldn’t do anything to Job without God’s permission. And God doesn’t permit the enemy to do anything to us unless it is for our good and His glory. God is perfect and all-knowing. He knows what we need, even before we ask for it. If God is telling you no to removing a trial, tribulation, or ‘thorn in the flesh,’ it’s because He is using it for something good. God knows the end from the beginning and only has our best in mind.

Take your burdens and give them to God. They are God’s burdens now.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

I like the way the Message translation puts it…

“I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

I hope these words comfort you if you are going through a tough time or trial. Times are tough, and I understand. So does God. Trust in Him. God knows what he is doing.
“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 64:10. Do not be afraid or discouraged… For the battle is not our, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:16).

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The loss of a loved one, whether it’s sudden or expected, can leave us shocked and unprepared. Your grief can leave you feeling lost and alone. Your mind becomes flooded with things you wish you had said or done. You wish you could say “I love you” one more time. You may not feel ready to say goodbye or deal with the grief that has overtaken you. When you are dealing with grief, your emotions can scatter your thoughts. In the middle of this confusion and difficult time, remember a few simple truths from the bible.

The Apostle Paul calls death our “enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26). Death reminds us that we live in a broken world. Death was never part of God’s original design. When you recognize this, you will long for the final restoration of all things, when the last enemy–death–has been defeated.

Death leaves us feeling alone, but remember, you are never alone in the darkness. Your Savior, Jesus, has taken the name Emmanuel, or “God with us.” This name reminds you that when you came to Christ, you also became the place where God dwells! His presence makes it impossible for you to be alone. (John 14:15-20)

The death of Jesus Christ is a powerful demonstration that the best things can come from the worst. Peter said that Jesus’ death was an evil thing done by evil men to the only truly good person (Acts 2:22-36). Jesus died on the cross so God could defeat sin and death–two enemies we couldn’t defeat on our own. In the same way, God can and does bring wonderful things out of the darkest moments of our lives.

One day death will be put to death. The loss of a loved one should remind you that God’s work is not yet complete. Because of sin, death entered the world. Jesus died so we would no longer have to die. When He rose from the dead, death was defeated. Until He returns, we still experience death but one day life won’t give way to death. Children won’t mourn their parents, parents won’t mourn their children, and there will be no widows or grieving friends.

On the cross Jesus defeated death, and his resurrection is your guarantee that one day, all who believe in Him, will be resurrected to a life of glory and peace. One day He is coming again to end physical death and usher in a new heaven and earth where there will be no death, no tears, and no sorrow (Revelation 21:1-4).

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If you are struggling with the grief after the loss of a loved one, please read this article for a deeper look into biblical truth, and how to find healing in God.

Finding Hope in the Darkness of Grief

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