The hills have done it. Look at them! See how calm and strong they are; how they lift their heads above the gloom.”
–Harold Bell Wright (The Shepherd of the Hills)
“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
–Luke 21:28 (NASB)
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“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of stuff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.”
–George Bennard
I mentioned yesterday that we are not to mourn for the Person on the cross. It may bring sorrow to you, but put that aside–do not mourn for Him. However, it is not wrong for you to mourn if you are in a sinful state. If you have not gone to see that the cross is empty; that Jesus paid the price and rose again. Too many times we get caught up with seeing Jesus on the cross, still there, but He is not! He, Himself declared it–It is finished! Yes, look upon the cross, but look at it as what took place there.
I invite you to read the following taken from Lois A. Cheney, God Is No Fool.
I stand before the cross
and wonder.
I stand before the cross
and fear.
I kneel before the cross
and weep.
I pray before the cross
and rejoice.
To know the cross
Is to know Christ.
To feel the cross
Is to feel Christ.
To gaze at the cross
Is to gaze at Christ.
To carry the cross
Is to be a Christian,
And not until then.
God forgive us.
The cross was a place of sorrow, now it is a place of rejoicing. No longer are we bound by the shackles of sin because of the sacrifice of the Lord. The cross was the place where the devil thought he had won, but it was the place of his demise.
Now, since we are redeemed. Now, since we are bought with a price–He tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him. Look at that verse, contemplate it. “And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].” (Luke 9:23, Amplified)
“To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
——————————-
“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of stuff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.”
–George Bennard
I mentioned yesterday that we are not to mourn for the Person on the cross. It may bring sorrow to you, but put that aside–do not mourn for Him. However, it is not wrong for you to mourn if you are in a sinful state. If you have not gone to see that the cross is empty; that Jesus paid the price and rose again. Too many times we get caught up with seeing Jesus on the cross, still there, but He is not! He, Himself declared it–It is finished! Yes, look upon the cross, but look at it as what took place there.
I invite you to read the following taken from Lois A. Cheney, God Is No Fool.
I stand before the cross
and wonder.
I stand before the cross
and fear.
I kneel before the cross
and weep.
I pray before the cross
and rejoice.
To know the cross
Is to know Christ.
To feel the cross
Is to feel Christ.
To gaze at the cross
Is to gaze at Christ.
To carry the cross
Is to be a Christian,
And not until then.
God forgive us.
The cross was a place of sorrow, now it is a place of rejoicing. No longer are we bound by the shackles of sin because of the sacrifice of the Lord. The cross was the place where the devil thought he had won, but it was the place of his demise.
Now, since we are redeemed. Now, since we are bought with a price–He tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him. Look at that verse, contemplate it. “And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].” (Luke 9:23, Amplified)
“To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.