“Glory Through The Cross!”

“Glory Through The Cross!”(Lk.18:31-34).
Yesterday a friend said whoever succumbs to injustices perpetuated by a known corrupter is himself an accomplice. I told him that contrary to what he is thinking, some of us keep on keeping on and doing what we do for the service of the Lord because of our calling.
The shame, insults, mockery and humiliations we have received does not measure up to what our Lord Jesus Christ went through. There are people in high places in my Church who are there because I placed them there, but today they think that maintaining their positions can only be possible by humiliating me. Of late there is a sing-song about staying away from them – whatever that means! While we are staying away from them, we forget too soon about the master’s call of leaving the 99 sheep and going in search of the one strayed sheep! Only a fool like myself can dare to say what I’m saying now!
But my friend, THERE IS NO GLORY WITHOUT A CROSS!
The Lord Jesus Christ is our role model forever. The grace we have received is the result of the insults, shame, humiliation, flogging and death of the one we call Lord and Saviour.
Wednesday will be Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Church season of Lent in which we remember the pain, suffering, humiliation and death that Jesus went through to become the Christ.
He knew what was before him, but he faced it boldface! When the time was ripe he took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that was written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”
It is said that “the disciples did not understand this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” But today we understand what he was talking about. There is no glory without the cross!
When we enjoy the sunshine today we should keep handy our umbrellas for the rainy days which must surely come in its season. The grace we enjoy came through the cross. May we also always bear our own crosses without grumbling!
Sunday prayer: Lord Jesus Christ be our strength and stronghold as we emulate your example. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.