The Cross Centered Life.

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarecly die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."
Romans 5:6-11

I just finished reading The Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney, and it was a sweet read.

It's a short and simple 88 pages, but the message it brings is the heaviest and most important thing in life. Jesus Christ took my sin and shame upon Himself on the Cross so that I can have life in Him! How great and wonderful is that? Oh, how many times has this message grown callous to me? I hear it, and just think, "Been there. Done that." Like a checklist. But accepting the Gospel is not just a one time prayer, it is a relationship, it is life, it is everything. It reminds me to keep the Cross center of everything - to keep Jesus Christ on the forefront of my mind, to gaze my eyes fixed at His Cross, to awaken my heart to see the glories of Calvary, to grow deeper and deeper in experiencing the Cross, to live each day, moment, second in light of the Gospel. It warns me from basing my life around three things:

"1. Legalism, which means basing our relationship with God on our performance.
2. Condemnation, which means being more focused on our sin than on God's grace.
3. Subjectivism, which means basing our view of God our changing feelings and emotions."

Wow, that's exactly what God's been teaching me this past year: breaking my idols of legalism, condemnation, and subjectivism to replace them with more of His cross and more of Him. How many times have I struggled through these things that take my focus off of Christ and put them on me? I still struggle daily with these things, just this morning during Morning Prayer, I realized I was falling into the tempation of legalism as I was thinking to myself, "O.K., I'm good, I woke up for morning prayer, I can do this. Look, God, see what I'm doing for you." And then even during morning prayer, I think, "Oh, look how eloquent are my words. My words must encourage others." Oh! What a wretched sinner I am, and how prideful my heart is! By God's grace and His forgiveness, He has given me life and the strength to do anything. I can't do anything without Him, and it's not by my power, but it's His alone.

And then, I can fall into the trap of condemnation - thinking to myself, "Wow, I can't believe that I thought those things while I was praying. Ugh, how can God love me? I hate that I'm like this. I hate it," forgetting to recieve God's grace and forgiveness. My salvation is secure in Him, He has forgiven me. I don't need to beat myself up. Lord, help me to recieve Your grace.

Last week, I was really feeling dry, and I beat myself up for not feeling near to God, instead of focusing on God's truth, and rejoicing that He has saved me. Oh, may my eyes gaze on the objective Truth of God's Gospel and may He be my Solid Rock.

Lord, keep my eyes focused on Your Gospel, on Your Cross. Never allow me to minimize Your salvation, Your redeeming love. Break down my pride. Break down my idols. Break down my self-dependence. Help me to wholly depend on You. Help me to grow deeper and deeper in love with You. In Your Name, Amen.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, Come!