Boast In The Cross

Boast In The CrossAqualyn Toi Jones What do you boast about? Yes, I'm asking you.And no, you're not exempt from this question. We've all boasted about something. Maybe it's your children / grandchildren and how smart they are. Perhaps it was about your material possessions or your accomplishments. Nonetheless, I know that you've bragged at some point in time. Feeling ashamed? Well, that's not my intention.I think bragging is a natural tendency for some. We just like to share the good things that go on in our lives. The problem is not in boasting. The issue lies in what we boast about. In Galatians 6:14, Paul says, "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified ..." Well, that may be the problem right there. Maybe our tendency is to boast in everything but the cross. Paul says that if he's going to boast, he's going to boast in the cross. Why? Frankly, there's nothing else to brag about. None of my achievements or awards can compare to what happened on the cross of Christ. All of my efforts, recognitions, and rewards fall short of what happened on that cross. We're taught at a young age to say 'Please' and 'Thank You'. We're also taught to put our best foot forward. To show our strengths instead of our weaknesses. Show-and-tell taught us to bring our best and to brag (oops, I mean talk) about it. No wonder we get this boasting thing all wrong. One of my favorite pieces of jewelry is a cross pendant that I bought almost seven years ago. It's not the first cross that I've owned. It doesn't have any diamonds on it. In fact, it's sterling silver. It's cute and I'm proud of it. This cross is special to me because I bought it during my first missions' trip to South Africa. I haven't seen one like it yet. How's that for boasting?But my cross - no matter how cute - has nothing on the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing I do can match the power of the cross. My good intentions still fall short. When Jesus died on the cross we became the sons and daughters of God. The cross was the vehicle to destroy the hold of sin over us. It put us it good standing with God. The cross introduced a lasting and eternal change in the relationship between God and man. Why would we even want to boast about ourselves? Instead, let us brag with Paul about the cross and the lasting and eternal change it brings to our lives.

HUSBANDS AND WIVES

HUSBANDS AND WIVES 1 Corinthians 7:10-24 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+Corinthians+7:10-24Dear Father, lover of families,May husbands and wives both strive to satisfy the spiritual, mental,economic, emotional, and physical needs of the other so neither ofthem will ever be tempted to look to someone else for companionship.Help them both to exercise perfect self-control, never giving Satanany opportunity to deceive them.Father, grant that there may never be any rupture in their marriagerelationship that would lead to quarreling, unfaithfulness,separation, or divorce. While one cannot take ultimateresponsibility for the salvation of the other, help each of them tolive for you before the other, building each other up. Becausemarriage is honorable in your eyes, help us to lead the life beforeyou which you have assigned them in marriage.Thank you for calling them to peace, peace with each other and withyou. In the state they are in, let them remain there with you, livingjoyfully in the keeping of your commandments.In the name of Jesus and by his authority I ask. Amen.

VERSE:

VERSE: ...let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace ofGod, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts andminds through Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 4:6-7 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Philippians+4:6-7&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: What guards your heart? What protects your mind? Did you knowthat the peace of God can stand guard over our hearts and minds?That's the apostle Paul's promise to us in this passage. If we willpresent our requests to God, with thanksgiving, then God's peacethat is greater than any explanation and that transcends ourability to comprehend it, will stand sentry over our hearts andminds. You want an example of how this is true? Look at the book ofJob: All that befalls him; all that wounds him. Yet still hedoesn't become hard of heart or go insane. What is the key to hissurvival? His ongoing conversation with the LORD. He will notrelinquish that relationship no matter how badly he hurts, how muchhe is confused, nor how badly he is ridiculed.PRAYER: Father, I need your peace. There are wounds that pierce myheart, but I don't want it to become hardened and callused. Thereare times my mind is so confused that I fear I may lose myrationality. Dear Father, I trust that as I cling to Jesus, and asI speak openly with you about my life and your grace, that you willbless me with your peace and will protect my heart and my mind fromdestruction. Thank you, dear Father, for the reminder that even asI struggle with my troubles, I also need to give you thanks for allthe good things that you have blessed me with in my life and mywalk with you! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

VERSE:

VERSE: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer andsupplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known untoGod. -- Philippians 4:6 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Philippians+4:6&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: Anxiety is worry over things which we cannot control and whichwe do not remove from our thoughts. Anxiety dominates and controlsa passive mind and a troubled heart, filling both with doubt, fear,and dread. But, anxiety cannot be removed; it must be replaced. Weremove our anxiety by giving our concerns and worries to the Lord,trusting him to care for us. Then, as we give him thanks for whathe has done and what he is doing in our lives, we replace thoseconcerns and worries with a genuine sense of his presence. As aresult, our confidence in his future for us can return.PRAYER: Father, I know you love me. You have done so much to bless andsave me. I deliberately place the worries and concerns of my heartin your hands ... (Specifically mention the things that burden yourheart today.) Father, I also want to thank you for the many waysyou have blessed me over my life ... (Specifically mentionblessings you have received from God!) Now, dear Father, pleasefill my heart with your Spirit and my mind with the sense of yourpresence and peace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Power Of The Cross

The Power Of The CrossPastor Olu Brown I remember growing up in a small community and being spiritually nurtured by two local churches. You may ask, why two churches? Our immediate family membership was held at one, while the other church held the membership of some extended family. As a kid, I didn't think much about it, I just knew every other week my family would attend a different church. Although the two churches were different in style and leadership there was consistency in the music. One old hymn I may have heard sung at both churches still reaches my soul to this day.The hymn is a Watt's masterpiece entitled "At the Cross." The words I most like are found in the chorus:"At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away, it was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day!"Even at my young age, this song had a profound impact on my life. I knew very little about big theological phrases and the ultimate understanding of God, but for some reason this song made it as plain as could be. I believe it was the understanding and realization that Jesus loved me so much that He was willing to give His life for me and through His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection my life could be anew.Wow! I know it sounds crazy for one person's sacrifice to make such a difference in the world but it is truly real.As you live through the Easter season, I challenge you to revisit the words of this old hymn and rediscover the profound sacrifice Christ has made.Through our faith we "receive sight" and the opportunity to be "happy all the day."

FAMILY RELATIONS

FAMILY RELATIONS 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+Corinthians+7:1-7Dear Father, third party to our marriage,Thank you that in matters of family relations you have not left usuninformed. Thank you for your apostle Paul's instructions. Help metake all these to heart.While it may have been better for me to remain unmarried and tohave dedicated my life wholly to your service, I am married now, soplease help me to fulfill all my vows and obligations to my wifeand to freely give to her my love. Help me constantly to showaffection to her and make her know that I love her. Give me thehealth, strength, and desire to fulfil her conjugal rights,understanding that I don't rule over my body, but that she does.Please help her to reciprocate.In the name of Jesus and by his authority I ask. Amen.

CONCILIATION

CONCILIATION 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+Corinthians+6:1-11Dear Father, eternal and just judge of all,Help me never to shame you or your saints before the world. Howcould I dare seek arbitration with a brother before a judge whodoes not even know about Christ's way? If believers are someday tojudge the world, and even angels, surely we can settle mattersbetween ourselves. Help me, Father, to willingly suffer wrongrather than to quarrel with members of your family before the worldand thereby invite their ridicule.Don't permit us to be deceived, but to know that the immoral,idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, greedy, drunkards,revilers, and robbers will not inherit your kingdom. Yes, Father,we were these kinds of people before we came to know yoursalvation. But you washed us, sanctified us, justified us in thename of our Lord Jesus Christ and in your very own Spirit. Thankyou, loving Father, for reaching out to us, changing us, saving us!In the name of Jesus, by whose blood we are washed clean and bywhose Spirit we are made to live, I pray. Amen.