The Cross is the Power of God

"For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" 1 Corinthians 1:18.

In the last post we began contemplating Mark 8:34, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

Paraphrase by Susan: If you want to be a true Christian

1. deny yourself
2. take up your cross
3. follow Jesus

We are told in Matthew 10:24 that "A disciple is not above his
teacher ..." For these reasons my cross -- your cross -- will include tears, insults, betrayal, struggle, anguish, pain, sorrow, and death.

Some of you have written to share your thoughts, one of which is:

"Perhaps our "cross" is not only represented by our difficulties, trials, and challenges. When Jesus told us to deny ourselves, He knew that the one factor common to all we must bear is that it is much easier for us all to desire our will than to subjugate it to His will."

This took me back to Mark 8, and I read the verses surrounding verse 34. Verse 35 continues, "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it." Susan's paraphrase: to take up my cross means to give my life for Jesus and the Gospel, submitting my will to whatever God wills because His ways are above my ways.

A reader said that my ending words "to be continued" struck her, writing, "We don't escape the cross in this walk. Although the circumstances that represent our cross ebb and flow, or even change completely, the cross is 'continued.' ... For me, simply to "stay under" in all things and through all things is a cross."

This took me to 1 Corinthians 9:23 where Paul writes, "And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it."

Therefore, my brothers and sisters in Christ, "let us run with endurance (perseverance) the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart" Hebrews 12: 1b - 3.