The Power of the Cross

“God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, and got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.” — Colossians 1:13-14, The Message

 We’re still living in the reverberation of this and the very first Easter. I don’t know about you but I not only want to constantly live in the reverberation of Easter, but the reality of it!

 Stop and really think about what has been secured through the cross of Jesus Christ. Life. Power. Peace. And so much more. And ultimately these “things” we so long for are found in God. He is Life. He is Power. He is Peace.

I snagged this snapshot from my book, Meant to Live, which you’ll be able to hold in your hot hands this September:

“Look at the cross. As we live aware of distance between God’s perfection and our own, we get desperate until we realize that’s precisely why Christ came—to bridge that gap! The awareness of the divide habitually connects us to our need.

Remember the lyric from ‘Amazing Grace’: ‘’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear (the gift of our awareness of sin), and grace my fears relieved’? (God’s gift of the cross!)”

This. This is the power of the cross!

“As we’re honest about our sin, and about who God is in His unrivaled glory, the cross increases more and more. It’s not actually enlarging. It’s already full size. Its work is full and complete. But as we continue to access it in our lives, we realize more of its power.

When you get this, it’s what makes you throw up your hands in worship: ‘Hallelujah!’ That’s the power of the cross!

My former pastor, the late Rich Craven, would often say, ‘For every one look you take at yourself, take nine at the cross.’ That ratio keeps God and His saving power always front and center.”  (Meant to Live by Nancy Hicks)

 You, my dear friend, can have the power of the cross in everything— absolutely everything you think, say, and do.

 The power of the risen Christ in you is not a nice idea. It’s real.

 And it can be a reality in your life today.

I’m real because God is so real.

 ~ Nancy

 CALLING

 Where are you seeing a rut in your life? A relationship? A rotten habit or attitude? See it. Name it. Then ask God to breathe resurrection power into that situation.

Come, Lord Jesus, come here and now.