The Glory of the Cross

Gal.6:14 - But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
The world continues to turn and my earthly cares and duties continue to swirl. Arising each morning my mind automatically ponders the day’s chores. The people, the places, the bills, and all the news around the world seem to imprison me. I have my creed and I have my personal testimony which seems much more vivid as historical than it odes in the present reality. But that statement from the Apostle Paul has far reaching consequences as well as many glorious caverns of mystery.
Do I arise from sleep as a dead man that is only alive unto Christ? Does the cross have a place in my daytimer, to say nothing of being absolutely preeminent? Have I compartmentalized the gospel so that I can go back and forth, in and out, upon my whim or when religious activity is taking place? Does the cross - the real and authentic cross - consume me, ever? And can my spirit rip the cross from the pages of systematized doctrine and make it my very life’s breath?

To think about and imagine those unspeakable sufferings.
To wonder about the wonder of it all.
To meditate upon the priceless sacrifice.
To hear the groans of the sinless Lamb.
To gaze at His excruciation.
To see the crimson blanket of redemption.
To bow before His humiliation.
To cover my mouth in awe and amazement.
To weep at my sin and His love.
To worship at this ghastly glory.
To beat my breast with repentance.
To beg for a greater reservoir of love for Him.
To marvel at such undeserved wounds.
To lay prostrate before the bloodied face of God.
To be consumed with this grisly sacrifice.
To glory in this sacred and eternal act of redemption.

He Loved Me With a Cross
He left a throne in heaven to come to Bethlehem
And I will not forget the way
He loved me even then
And everywhere He traveled
He spoke with words of love
That said He'd go to any distance
To show what I was worthy of
And when at last the dusty road
Had turned to Calvary
He picked up a rugged burden
So that one day I would see

He loved me with a cross
He loved me with a cross
In answer to the call of love
He loved me with a cross
And I could not imagine what
Loving me would cost
My Jesus went to Calvary
And loved me with a cross

He knew from the beginning
The price He'd have to pay
For my heart had gone so far beyond
What other loves forgave
I wasn't on that hillside
To see Him on the tree
But as my guilt was placed upon Him
I know that somehow He saw me

And I would be a sinner still
Enslaved by all my sin
If it hadn't been for Jesus
And the way He loved me still

He loved me with a cross
He loved me with a cross
In answer to the call of love
He loved me with a cross
And I could not imagine what
Loving me would cost
My Jesus went to Calvary
And loved me with a cross

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.