The Humility & Wisdom of the Cross

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

What does the Cross mean to you?  How can the symbol of a reality intending to bring shame actually become the very thing we cherish?  How can Christians actually sing, “So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross?”  The apostle Paul went even further, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)  Are Christians out of their right minds? 

Here is where I’d like to share some of our Romans 12 Men’s Bible study with the rest of you!  First of all we are told throughout scripture that God is not only pleased with humility from us, He not only expects it, but it is required in our very salvation!  After all the blessed promises contained within Romans 3-11, Paul begins the more “application side” of the book with, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (Romans 12:3)

What a thought…that the faith we have is also a gift from God; we can’t claim credit for it, though we can, like the disciples did, ask the Lord to “increase our faith”! (Luke 17:5).  Jesus’ answer to that request was that they don’t need that much faith to accomplish great things; even faith the size of a mustard seed accomplishes much!  I think of 3 examples in the New Testament where Jesus commended others for their faith.  One is of the Roman centurion, who asked Jesus to heal his servant, rightly recognizing His power to heal from afar (Matthew 8).  The 2nd is of the woman in Matthew 9 who was bleeding for 12 years, & was healed by touching Jesus’ cloak.  The third is below, from Matthew 15.

“A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. He replied, "It is not right to take the children s bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s  table." Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:22-28)  Though the term “dogs” were often used by Jews to refer to Gentiles, it is clear in the context that Jesus is testing the Gentile woman’s response, and she is clearly willing to humble herself it if meant healing for her daughter.  We should do likewise.

Biblical justification (Being made right before God = being “saved”) requires the humility to repent of one’s sins and follow Jesus wherever He would have us go.  The rich young ruler of Luke 18:18 was not willing to give up his wealth to do that.  Others have similar hang-ups.  The Corinthians were chastised by Paul for thinking more highly of themselves than they ought: “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)  We’re told in other places, “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6:3) or  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)  Two more:  "This is the one I esteem: (declares the LORD) he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)  “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6) 

The humility that God desires requires us to recognize that all that is good is received from Him.  All that is promised is given to His Children is given through a humble, childlike faith.  I believe that one of the indicators of this is in our private prayer lives.  What we do behind the scenes indicates whether we are living for ourselves, or living a life of moment-by-moment reliance upon Him.  Fervent prayer shows that we recognize our need for Him to accomplish what we ask AND believe that He can do it!

The greater the prayers, the greater the expectation of faith!  I come back to the Cross.  The Cross of Jesus Christ is both a symbol and a reality.  He really died as a sacrifice for all those who would be saved, so that we don’t die a spiritual death!  Then He calls us to “die to ourselves” (Colossians 3:5) by “taking up our cross and following Him” (Matthew 16:24). 

This is only seen in people who have put God first.  They know and value the eternal relationship with Him over earthly comforts and pleasures. They rely on Him as their ultimate inheritance and reward (Genesis 15:1, Matthew 13:44, Ephesians 1:14, Colossians 3:24).  If you’re reading this, it’s not too late: Begin again, by humbling yourself, repenting of selfishness, and daily follow Him by faith.  In keeping that there is “great reward”…in Him!