Cadyville Wesleyan Church
Comfort is practically at the core of the American dream. But what do we do when comfort leaks into our spiritual lives? How do we reconcile that with the call of Jesus? The cross presents a wholly different call, one that is uncomfortable because it calls us to reject a core principle that we have been taught to embrace and live our lives by an entirely paradigm. Will we chase comfort? Or will we embrace the cross?
We discover through the life of Jesus that fans seek comfort, but followers seek the cross.
Luke 9:23 NIV
What was an utterly shocking statement to Jesus’ followers has become functionally meaningless to most of us today.
For many, the cross has become an accessory.
1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV
God takes what the world says is foolish, demeaning, and shameful, and says “watch this” and turns it into the power of salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:22-25 NIV
Who else but God could take a cross that represented defeat –
and turn it into a symbol of victory?
Who else but God could take a cross that represented guilt –
and turn it into the symbol for grace?
Who else but God could take a cross that represented condemnation –
and turn it into a symbol of freedom?
Who else but God could take a cross that represented pain and suffering –
and turn it into symbol of healing and hope?
Who else but God could take a cross that represented death –
and turn it into a symbol of life?
Here’s why that matters. Here’s what I don’t want you to miss. This is our one point for this lesson, and it’s so important, it’s the only thing you need to get from this morning:
What God did on the cross, he can do for you!
1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV
It’s not that God used the cross in spite of its weakness – he chose the cross because of its weakness!
When we acknowledge our weakness and humble ourselves before the Lord we put ourselves in a position to receive His strength.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV
Will you, like Christ did before us, trust God enough to let your weakness be His strength?