My wife and I volunteer in a thrift store that raises money to place Bibles and other literature around the world. My wife takes care of the jewelry for the store. One day someone wanted to know if we had any cheap crosses for sale. That got me to thinking about how we have cheapened the cross.
Jesus said to take up our cross and follow Him. I have heard people refer to physical ailments or physical problems as their cross while others refer to a family member or a friend as their cross. Once again we cheapen the cross of Christ. Crosses are not some cheap piece of jewelry that we wear around our neck, or in our ears or lapels. In the first century the cross was known for what it really was, a means of torture and death. To carry a cross meant to go to a place of death. That was no cheap cross.
Paul tells the Philippian Christians "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for him." This is no cross worn around one's neck. Are we prepared to suffer for Him?
1 comment:
Thanks for the rebuke of how we carelessly use the blessed cross as a term for our little pet peeves. There is no place for it in the life of a Christian. There are plenty of other words we can use to describe our little trials. Thank you for waking me up. God bless.
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