The Ultimate Solution to All Your Problems, a Cross Examination
Photo: ©vitanovski from Getty Images via Canva.com
God is acting decisively at the cross to work out His purposes to bring everyone from all nations, at all times, to Himself. Apart from the cross, there is no way to understand or enjoy life the way God intends. It’s a mystery as much as it’s the practical centerpiece of the gospel. How well are you living in the presence of the cross? How does the cross define your life today?
You may want to read:
Who Are You?
Dear Father, help me not to be like the soldiers that day who were playing at the foot of the cross. Help me not to be like the passersby who were too busy to understand the cross. Help me not to be like the priests who thought they understood the cross and, thereby, missed the point of the cross. Help me not to be like the prisoners who died beside the cross. They lost the purpose of the death of the Savior.
- Soldier: “I have a job to do, and what He is doing is not part of my plans.”
- Passersby: “I’m too distracted or preoccupied with my life.”
- Priests: “I love my religion, not His. Mine is lucrative. His is deathly.”
- Prisoners: “I’m bound by my sin, and don’t care or not sure He can help me.”
- Friends: “All of them love Him, but the cross rattled them into unbelief.”
The Practical Cross
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God (John 3:16-18).
- “Save yourself, and come down from the cross!” He can’t because God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son to you.
- “He saved others; he cannot save himself.” Of course, He can’t because His Father so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son to you.
- “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” I am forsaking you at this moment because I so love the world that I’m giving you, my one and only Son.
- “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” Elijah will not come because God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son to you.
- “And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.” It had to be this way because God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son to you.
- “The curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” Can’t you see how much the Father so loved the world by the giving of His one and only Son to you?
Practically Applying the Cross
- If no one fully understood what was going on that day, could it be that I also don’t fully understand the cross? Examine yourself: how thoroughly does the cross of Christ influence you daily?
- The realities of the cross have not fully impacted me the way they should. What do I need to do? Perhaps I need to talk to someone about this because I’m not sure how to practically apply the cross.
- What I see at the cross, along with the people around the cross, will help me understand the cross. Which person or people group around the cross best represents me? How do I need to change?
Practically Praying the Cross
- Dear Father, help me to live as defined by the cross. Center me in your Son’s work on the cross in fresh ways. What one specific way can I do this?
- Dear Father, help me to understand the cross; so that I may experience the realities of the gospel in practical ways. What does that prayer mean?
- Dear Father, remind me of the cross today. Teach me how to preach your gospel to myself each day. What do I need to do to make this my habit?
The Call to Die
Jesus tells us to take up our cross, which is our daily responsibility. There is a smell of death when we look toward that hill, but His path to death is the portal to an abundant life. To lose our lives is to gain a more profound peace and a more firm foundation. It’s not a social religion but a call to war.
Many of our readers feel the intensity of the battlefield and perceive that they are losing the war. The nature of the battle is to break you down and discourage you first. Then demoralize you until the enemy breaks your will. The hope of Christ seems so faint in your mind.
When the hope is gone, the war is over, at least for that day. But there is a resurrection. Rather than giving up by choosing a different path, will you reach out to someone? Let them hold onto you because you have little desire to cling to them. Make that call today. Here are a few more things that might serve you.
Call to Action
- Audial – If you’re too distracted to read something, perhaps listening will serve you better. We have more than 1200 podcasts for you. You can find all our “Life Over Coffee” podcasts at this link.
- Reading – If you’re able to read, you may peruse our enormous Topical Index. You can read for months. Also, you may enjoy our books. I have three on this page.
- Watching – If you prefer to watch something, I appeal to you to view our videos on our YouTube Channel. We also have scores of them here on our video channel.
- Talk – You may also talk to us on our private community forums. It would be a joy to meet you there.
All of these resources are free to you. We don’t want anything from you other than to serve you. Don’t give up. Let us help.
Need More Help?
- If you want to learn more from us, you may search this site for thousands of resources—articles, podcasts, videos, graphics, and more. Please spend time studying the ones that interest you. They are free.
- If you want to talk to us, we have private forums for those who support this ministry financially. Please consider supporting us here if you would like to help us keep our resources free.
Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.
In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
0
