In light of Easter this past Sunday it might be easy to move on to the next season, next event, next assignment, next deadline. But I want to encourage you to never move on from the Cross. It is the reality that defines and directs our very existence. As the Apostle Paul writes: “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). In light of them importance of the cross, let me offer you a couple of great quotes on the cross and a few links to articles to encourage your meditation on the cross.
This first one is on the importance of daily remembering and dwelling upon the cross:
CJ Mahaney: “We awaken each day with a tendency to forget that which is most important: the gospel. All of us should assume this tendency and be aware of this tendency. Because of the Fall and due to the effects of remaining sin, we have a daily tendency and temptation to forget stuff in general and to forget that which is most important in particular… Assuming this tendency, we must create practices that will enable us to remember what we must not forget—the cross. So each day I seek to spend time in a location where I am not distracted, unhurriedly reading and meditating on Scripture and finding my way in Scripture to a hill called Calvary to meditate each day on Christ and him crucified. Each day I need to remind myself of the gospel. I cannot live on yesterday’s recollection of the gospel. I need to review and rehearse the gospel each day or I will assume the gospel, forget the gospel, and prove vulnerable to all manner of temptation and sin.” (from the blog post linked below).
This next one is about how the cross should give us a vision of the Christian life as well as the necessary power to live it out:
A.W. Tozer: “The cross of Roman times knew no compromise; it never made concessions. It won all arguments by killing its opponent and silencing him for good. It spared not Christ, but slew Him the same as the rest. He was alive when they hung Him on that cross and completely dead when they took Him down six hours later. That was the cross the first time it appeared in Christian history…. The cross effects its ends by destroying one established pattern, the victim’s, and creating another pattern, its own. Thus it always has its way. It wins by defeating its opponent and imposing its will upon him. It always dominates. It never compromises, never dickers nor confers, never surrenders a point for the sake of peace. It cares not for peace; it cares only to end its opposition as fast as possible. With perfect knowledge of all this, Christ said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” So the cross not only brings Christ’s life to an end, it ends also the first life, the old life, of every one of His true followers. It destroys the old pattern, the Adam pattern, in the believer’s life, and brings it to an end. Then the God who raised Christ from the dead raises the believer and a new life begins. This, and nothing less, is true Christianity…. We must do something about the cross, and one of two things only we can do—flee it or die upon it” (The Root of Righteousness, 1955).
A couple of links:
Cross-Centered Books
CJ Mahaney offers some books on the cross that have encouraged him to meditate on the cross and be transformed by its truths.
The Multifaceted Diamond of Christ’s Atoning Work
This second one is a collection of articles by different authors on the atonement called, “The Multifaceted Diamond of Christ’s Atoning Work.” I am still working through the articles, but the ones I have read have helped me to better understand and appreciate the gospel.
May God bless you this week as you continue to meditate on the Cross!
By His Grace,
pastor kim
