I have seem some T-shirts that say ‘Stand for the flag and kneel for the cross‘. The picture on the T-shirt shows the American flag and then a picture of three crosses with a guy kneeling in front of them.
When I saw this, I wondered if people actually understand what we actually have to do at the cross.
The cross is a symbol of what Jesus did for us, but it is also a symbol of what we should do daily. Let me explain
Jesus said to pick up our cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23). In saying this, he is telling us that we need to crucify our flesh (that part of us that contrary to God) daily. Why? Because only by crucifying our flesh will we end up where he ended up…raised up and in the throne room of God. In other words, we are to crucify our flesh daily so that we can experience the riches of the presence of God in our lives.
The cross is the gateway to the throne room of God
Thus we are not meant to kneel at the cross but we are meant to nail ourselves to the cross.
In his letter to the church in Galatia, Apostle Paul says, ” I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me…” In other words, because he has also crucified his flesh, the life of Christ is able to be manifested outwardly through him.
To crucify our flesh means that life is no longer about us. It is about loving God and loving others. It means we have humbled ourselves to God’s purpose for our lives (what he desire of our lives).
What kind of life do we end up with after we crucify our flesh? It is the abundant life that Jesus promised (John 10:10). It is the life filled with love, joy, peace, patience etc. It is the life of nothing missing and nothing broken. It is the life of solid relationships and healed marriages.
This is the kind of life that God has in store for us today. It is the kind of life we have access to so long as we determine to crucify our flesh on the cross.
So here is what I say. Don’t just kneel at the cross. Make sure you nail yourself to the cross. God is honored more when we nail ourselves on the cross rather than kneel at it. It’s going to cost you your pride and ego, but it is the best life available.
The cross is a reminder for us to die to humble ourselves and be obedient. It is call for us to crucify our pride, ego, selfishness and all those yucky parts of our flesh daily.
SuperChamp 