89 - The Cross of Christ

Matthew 16:24-26 (AMP) 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me as My disciple, he must deny himself set aside selfish interests, and take up his cross expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come, and follow Me believing in Me, conforming to My example in living, and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me. For whoever wishes to save his life in this world will eventually lose it through death, but whoever loses his life in this world for My sake will find it that is, life with Me for all eternity. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world wealth, fame, success, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” 

God’s plan, established before the beginning of time, was for the salvation of our souls—our spiritual well-being-according to what was eternally right in His sight. Through His great love, He sent His Son to redeem us and bring us back to Himself. At the appointed time, Christ offered Himself for our good, taking the form of a bond-servant, made in the likeness of man yet without sin. Though Christ possessed the fullness of divine attributes—the entire nature of deity—He did not consider equality with God something to be used for His own advantage. Instead, He emptied Himself without diminishing His deity. He humbled Himself further by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8). 

In a similar way, we as believers and followers of Christ are called to work for the spiritual betterment of others. We are to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus, looking to Him as our example of selfless humility. As Jesus said in John 15:12-13 (AMP): “This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love nor stronger commitment than to lay down his own life for his friends.” 

When Christ emptied and humbled Himself, He revealed a mindset that, if we embrace it, can shape our own attitudes and actions. Christ possessed all things, and likewise, we in Christ have access to all spiritual blessings. In His security and confidence, Christ willingly set aside Himself, never grasping for what He already possessed as if afraid of losing it, nor asserting Himself as if He did not already possess it. In this power, He freely gave. Because He understood His eternal reality and our spiritual need, He was moved to give of Himself. Similarly, through the abundance we have been given in Christ, we possess the same security and confidence, empowering us to give of ourselves. 

This wisdom and understanding of who we are as spiritually blessed, reborn, and recreated beings—secure in our position with God—opens our hearts and minds to see the needs of others. It was why Jesus, even as He hung on the cross, could say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In His most desperate moment, He saw beyond Himself to our need. Because He fully understood His eternal reality, He was acutely aware of ours. When we lack confidence in our identity and new position in Christ, we create a sense of lack within ourselves. This self-conscious, inward focus prevents us from perceiving and responding to the needs of others. It leads to spiritual stagnation, dulling our sense of purpose. 

However, because we have received so much, we are inspired to move beyond ourselves, viewing even the most challenging aspects of our calling with joy rather than burden or fear. When we embrace the mind of Christ, we are empowered to rise above our fears, take up our cross, and follow Him. Taking up our cross means embodying the selfless love Christ showed when He gave Himself for us. We humble and empty ourselves for the spiritual well-being of others, sacrificially giving because we recognize we are lights to the world, just as Christ was. With the awareness that we have been freely given to, we freely give. Understanding our position with God and His unmerited gift enables us to give of ourselves, while remaining abundantly full. 

Christ invites us in Matthew 11:28-30 (AMP): “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened by religious rituals that provide no peace, and I will give you rest refreshing your souls with salvation. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me following Me as My disciple, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest renewal, blessed quiet for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear and My burden is light.” As Spirit-led believers, we experience the freedom to let go. We are not bound by religious rules or self-imposed expectations but are guided by wisdom from above, which brings clarity and peace to our souls. This spiritual insight not only satisfies our own needs but also equips us to serve others with love and joy. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP) reminds us: “Let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity, who for the joy of accomplishing the goal set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work.” 

In the same way, as we walk in the confidence and security Christ gives, we are empowered to be soul-saving lights to the world. We carry the same joy that motivated Christ to fulfill His mission. Our lives are infused with eternal purpose, a high calling from above.