COME TO THE CROSS… BUT DON’T STAY THERE!

Jesus beckons us to come to Him.

Just as we are.  With all of our brokenness, baggage and burdens. 

Many of us feel we must wait until we’re perfect, (or at least “better” than we are now!) before we can come to Him… but, that’s just not true.  He wants us to come right now - just as we are. He wants us to bring all of our yuck to Him and lay it down at the foot of the cross, where we can rest. (Matthew 11:28)

The first place we must come, is to the cross.

His cross.

This is where we begin to see what He’s done for us. How He laid down His life, for ours. 

The depth of what that means is so incredibly profound. Resting here, we allow this to soak deep into the core of our being.

Yes… at the foot of the cross is where we can finally lay down our brokenness and baggage and burdens.  It is where we find rest. It is where we rest, in Him.  Ahhhh… sweet rest. 

So sweet, that sometimes we can get stuck at the foot of the cross.  

We come, check the box that says, “I believe, therefore I’m saved,” and then sit down and lean against the cross, waiting for Jesus to come back and “make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5) In the interim, we’re just existing.  Just waiting. Just breathing in and breathing out, waiting for Him to come and take us to heaven, where all the yuck in THIS world is gone and we get to just be happy and do whatever we want. For forever.  *deep contented sigh*

But… that’s not what Jesus said.

He didn’t say, “Come. Get your “Get Outta Jail Free” card then just sick back and chill out for a bit till I come back and pick you up later.”  

No, He said, “Come. Pick up your cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

Wait.

What? 

Uhhhhmmmm…. 

Yes.  The first step in our journey is to His cross.  But, He’s no longer on the cross. (Matthew 28:6) So, the next step, is to take up ours.  

This does not mean we live a life of doom and gloom, just trudging to our death with a heavy cross on our back. (Philippians 4:4) It means first, we must die to our self… to OUR will. Daily. We put our flesh to death… we crucify our old self and it’s ways every moment of every day. (Galatians 2:20)

Then, after we’ve picked up our cross, we must follow Him.

What exactly this means is different for each of us… but it’s always in alignment with His Word and His will. He never leaves us or forsakes us along the way. (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20)  He is always with us and will never lead us into anything we cannot handle… WITH Him. (2 Corinthians 12:9) (We cannot do it by ourselves! I need to remind myself of this ALL the time!)  Like the old saying goes, “If He leads you to it, He’ll lead you through it!” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The key is to actually follow Him. He is our Shepherd, (Psalm 23, John 10:11-18) and we are His sheep. And, like sheep, we wander. We get stuck in brambles. We sometimes get lost… but He always finds us. (Luke 15:4) This is when we repent. When we know we’ve wandered off, away from the Shepherd, and we need to turn back to Him. When we call out to Him, (and confess our wanderings,) He will always come to our aid. (1 John 1:9) Maybe not in the way we want or expect, but always in the way we need, and in the way that is best for us.

So… come to the cross. But don’t stay there.  Pick up your cross, and follow Him.

It’s an incredible journey! (John 10:10)

SCRIPTURES

Matthew 11:28 ~ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] (AMPC)

Revelation 21:5 ~ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (ESV)

Luke 9:23 ~ Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. (NET)

Matthew 28:6 ~  He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. (NLT)

Galatians 2:20 ~ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (KJV)

Deuteronomy 31:6 ~ Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!” (NET)

Hebrews 13:5 ~ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (ESV)

Matthew 28:20 ~ And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

2 Corinthians 12:9 ~  Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (NLT)

Philippians 4:4-8 ~ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (NASB)

1 Corinthians 10:13 ~ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (ESV) 

Psalm 23 ~ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (KJV)

John 10:11-18 ~ “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.” (NASB)

Luke 15:4 ~ Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? (NET)

1 John 1:9 ~ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)

John 10:10 ~ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)