Over the past 4 years, the Lord has systematically removed from my life the security and stability that come from family, relationships, paychecks, and everything that is familiar and comfortable. He has been showing me that sure and unchanging security comes from understanding and resting in who my God is. The best place to discover my God's character is at the foot of the Cross. Will you come with me to the Cross? Come away from the rush of decision-making, the fears and pains of rejection, the frustration of unanswered questions, and discover once again how great the Father's provisional and protecting act of love truly is!
Read Romans 5: 1-11.
1. Write down the difficulties of life that are mentioned in verses 1-4.
2. Write down the words used to describe mankind before the work of Christ on the cross in verses 6-10.
3. Write down the words that describe believers in verses 4-5 and 10-11 after the work of Christ on the cross.
Compare Romans 5 to Elizabeth C. Celphane's Poem.
Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.
O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet,
O trysting place where Heaven’s love and Heaven’s justice meet!
As to the holy patriarch that wondrous dream was given,
So seems my Savior’s cross to me, a ladder up to heaven.
There lies beneath its shadow but on the further side
The darkness of an awful grave that gapes both deep and wide
And there between us stands the cross two arms outstretched to save
A watchman set to guard the way from that eternal grave.
Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.
I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by to know no gain or loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.
Apply I Corinthians 13.
1. In the poem above, identify the characteristic of love from 1 Corinthians 13 that each line reveals.
2. Identify one specific action that corresponds to each specific characteristic of love that you need to do for a specific person this week. Remember you are a Christian-a "little Christ."
Prayer: "Lord, how I long to be able to live this life in such a way that at the end of it all, my grave stone will read 'She knew nothing more than Christ-crucified and risen. She lived for nothing more and died for nothing less. Her gaze was on the cross, and her goal was His embrace.'"