“THE CROSS!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 632

May 23, 2023//

“One a hill far away, stood an Old Rugged Cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame.

And I love that Old Cross, where the dearest and best,

for a world of lost sinners was slain.”

The Cross, some despise it, some ignore it, some churches never acknowledge it.

Some think it is a fairy tale or lie and some cling to it, believe what it stands for and have their lives changed forever.

The Cross is foundational to the change that happens inside us when we receive the life Jesus Paid for on that Cross.

I remember in my younger days reading about the rejection and ridicule Jesus suffered. I read of the pain He bore and the awfulness of the cross and I would get riled up inside and think “Just come down from the Cross and show these mean and hateful people who you are”!

Then the reality of who I am would assault me! Without the price Jesus paid I would be doomed for a life of emptiness inside and eternity in torment!

BUT JESUS LOVED ME!

He shed His Blood to pay the debt of sin I owed but could never pay. After Adam and Eves original sin in the garden humans were separated from fellowship with the creator God.

We could never keep the law and so sacrifices were constantly made for forgiveness!

BUT THE CROSS! RESTORES THE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER!

When Jesus hung on the Cross, His Blood was pure and sinless and took care of every sin we have done, are doing, or ever will commit. We just come to Him and give ourselves to His Love and He cleanses us and sets us free from condemnation of the devil!  The Spirit of God comes alive in us, and we are new creations.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Jesus, the sinless one, might have died a natural death and even rose again, defeating death, but it took the blood of the only perfect one ever to walk the earth to pay the penalty for all sin of all who will believe and receive.

Because of the Cross, we can be filled with peace that the world cannot understand and certainly cannot give.

Because of the Cross, if we believe, satan is defeated in every area of our life.

Because of the Cross when others are surviving, we are thriving! Because of the Cross we have Joy that does not depend on circumstances.

And, because of the Cross, we never walk alone!

“In the Old Rugged Cross, stained with blood so divine,

A wondrous beauty I see.

For ‘twas on that Old Cross, Jesus suffered and died,

To pardon and sanctify me.”

The first line of the Chorus of that song says, “So I’ll cherish the Old Rugged Cross”!

Galatians 6:14 (KJV)
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

We all love the blessings that are in our lives by the Love of the Father. We love being able to help and give to others and we love being able to walk in health and strength.

We love knowing He will guide us and direct us and protect us. We love that we have angels to Minister, Guard, and Fight for us.

But do we sometimes glory in His blessings and provisions and forget the Cross!

What does the Cross mean to you! If you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, may I tell you the Cross made it possible. If we come and acknowledge that we need a savior (a rescuer, a redeemer), and ask Him to be your savior sincerely, He will change you!

God Loved and He gave His very best: Jesus of Nazareth, on that Old Rugged Cross!

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Father, thank you for the Cross. Forgive us when we live our lives in the blessings you pour out on us and do not remember the agonies that purchased those blessings.

Help each of us to cling to the truths of the Cross and Glory in the Victory of the Cross. Touch each person who reads this with the reawakening of the Power of the Blood shed on that Old Rugged Cross. In Jesus name I pray! Amen!

The Cross Made the difference for me! Love, MeMaw