Shy away from It, Shun It, or Embrace It!--THE CROSS!

By Belinda Dronek

One of the beauties of our Lord's forgiveness is that He meets us where we are. He extends His arms to take us in. All we have to do is to step into His embrace. He is waiting for us to make that first move into His embrace, where He can begin healing us and forming us into the new creation (Gal. 6:15) that only He can mold us into. He offers us such freedom, if we would only begin to realize the depths that we can go to when He leads the way.

Jesus says that He is going before us to prepare the way (John 14:2). He says (John 14:3-4) "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." What an awesome promise! And that is only one of many that our Lord has in store for us who take that step into His arms to be received by Him. God's saving grace is for us all!

Yet there is a pathway we must follow to get there. Where does that pathway lead? It is the same pathway that Jesus took--the way of The Cross. It is a path we usually try to avoid. Some shy away from it, some shun it, but God wants us to embrace it. (Matt 10:38) "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." That is the condition to the promise of our salvation!

Jesus' Cross gives us something to shout for joy with. As St. Paul said (Gal. 6:14-15), "But God forbid that I should boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation."

As we are drawn to the Cross of Christ, He brings us to the place where we receive redemption. At the foot of The Cross we are covered by The Blood, washed free from our sins and made into a new creation.

Alleluia! and Amen!

The Cross

"Come to the Cross,": says Jesus our Lord,
"The way is simple,: Trust in My Word."
"I've promised to save you,: I've given a way.
Accept and believe,: What I have to say.
"The path is laid before: you come follow My lead.
I've gone before you,: come on bended knee."
"My Grace is sufficient: to cover your sins.
Come in repentance,: Receive what I give."