When I was just a child my parents began taking me to church, and Sunday School class became my Sunday morning ritual. I can't remember all the teachers that I've had during the course of my life, but each one of them made an impact on my walk with the Lord. I remember that at least once each year they would teach about Jesus dying on the cross. I don't know about you, but this didn't sit well with me.
For 50 or so Sundays I was taught about how Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, and exuded love and kindness to everyone He met. Then for a couple of weeks each Spring I'd hear how much people hated Jesus and how they chose a known criminal to go free so that Jesus would be crucified and die on the old rugged cross. It just didn't sit well with me. I was more than willing to take the "loving Jesus". I eagerly accepted the "miracle making Jesus". I loved the "kind and caring Jesus". But, when they got to the hated, disfigured, bloodied, beaten, and crucified Jesus, I just wasn't willing to think of him that way. The cross got in the way!
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since I was a child and I'm glad some things changed along the way. I'm still a long way from perfect, but I'm a lot further away from the old me than I used to be. Thankfully, my relationship with the cross has gone through many steps throughout the years. I'm glad to say that the cross and I have a much better relationship today. I'm more mature to deal with the gruesome events of Calvary. I can see the perfect love beyond the blood and death now. I'm committed to my relationship with God today, so their are no unruly and unholy influences that pull me back and forth. The only one I'm trying to impress is the Lord, today. But I can tell you; the cross still gets in the way!
When I was a child I didn't fully understand a Savior that loved me so much that he would die on that cruel tree. But today, as a wiser and more mature Christian, I'm glad the cross gets in my way. The tempter still comes around to my life, but the cross gets in the way. Satan still tries to tempt my life with false promises of a good time, but the cross gets in my way and saves me from making those sinful mistakes. My flesh is still alive and kicking and pulls me away from the right way, but the cross gets in the way and gets me back on the right path. I'm glad the cross gets in my way!
Sometimes the devil even gets in my face and tries to remind me of the sin that has been in the course of my life and the cross gets in the way and reminds him of the blood that has cleansed me of that sin. I'm glad the cross gets in the way! So as we embark on another Easter season, take heart that the cross gets in the way!
"So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown."
Pastor Hoffman
For 50 or so Sundays I was taught about how Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, and exuded love and kindness to everyone He met. Then for a couple of weeks each Spring I'd hear how much people hated Jesus and how they chose a known criminal to go free so that Jesus would be crucified and die on the old rugged cross. It just didn't sit well with me. I was more than willing to take the "loving Jesus". I eagerly accepted the "miracle making Jesus". I loved the "kind and caring Jesus". But, when they got to the hated, disfigured, bloodied, beaten, and crucified Jesus, I just wasn't willing to think of him that way. The cross got in the way!
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since I was a child and I'm glad some things changed along the way. I'm still a long way from perfect, but I'm a lot further away from the old me than I used to be. Thankfully, my relationship with the cross has gone through many steps throughout the years. I'm glad to say that the cross and I have a much better relationship today. I'm more mature to deal with the gruesome events of Calvary. I can see the perfect love beyond the blood and death now. I'm committed to my relationship with God today, so their are no unruly and unholy influences that pull me back and forth. The only one I'm trying to impress is the Lord, today. But I can tell you; the cross still gets in the way!
When I was a child I didn't fully understand a Savior that loved me so much that he would die on that cruel tree. But today, as a wiser and more mature Christian, I'm glad the cross gets in my way. The tempter still comes around to my life, but the cross gets in the way. Satan still tries to tempt my life with false promises of a good time, but the cross gets in my way and saves me from making those sinful mistakes. My flesh is still alive and kicking and pulls me away from the right way, but the cross gets in the way and gets me back on the right path. I'm glad the cross gets in my way!
Sometimes the devil even gets in my face and tries to remind me of the sin that has been in the course of my life and the cross gets in the way and reminds him of the blood that has cleansed me of that sin. I'm glad the cross gets in the way! So as we embark on another Easter season, take heart that the cross gets in the way!
"So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown."
Pastor Hoffman
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