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
As presented on *The Lutheran Hour® by Dr. Oswald Hoffmann , February 21, 1988.
We lift high the cross of Christ, as did Saint Paul, who stopped boasting about himself and his own accomplishments and started glorying in the Christ of that cross, now raised from the dead.
There was a time when Paul had been Saul, the boaster. He beat his chest with his fists and proclaimed to the world, “Look at me! See how powerful I am! See what devastation I can bring to the lives of people! If you want to learn how to control the lives of other people, look at me!”
Now, having come to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, Saul had become Paul, the apostle to the nations. He shared one great story: that Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He was raised again the third day as the Scriptures said He would be. The day Saul met Christ, everything else went out the window and he became Paul, apostle to the world.
Lift high the cross of Christ, living your life freely and gloriously in the light of His redemption instead of being crucified by the world. Lift high the cross, because there your sins have been forgiven. God buries your sin in the depths of the sea, which boasts the sign: “No fishing here.”
Lift high the cross, the sign of God to you and the whole world, a witness to love and to victory—from beginning to end, His offer of salvation is true and free.
Lord God, lift high the cross of Your Son Jesus that the world may see, and believe, and be saved from the disaster that threatens us all. Give us eyes to see that You forgive us because of the cross of Christ. Amen.
Taken from A Message of Hope: Proclaiming the Cross (selections from messages broadcast on *The Lutheran Hour, celebrating 75 years of proclaiming the promise).
Copyright © 2006 by Lutheran Hour Ministries
*The Lutheran Hour is the longest-running Christian radio broadcast in the world. It is a production of Lutheran Hour Ministries. For more information, visit www.lutheranhour.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Joshua 22-24 Luke 12:1-31
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