What an awe-inspiring service of worship this morning. First Church’s chancel choir and orchestra under the direction of Albin Whitworth were magnificent. The flow and content of the music and time of meditation brought me to the foot of the Cross. And it is at the foot of the cross where we are forever changed and empowered to live the life God has for us.

Let me share with you a Lenten devotion I wrote for our series entitled “Lift High the Cross”.

Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is the ultimate example of a life lived. Not only did Jesus convey his message of God’s love which leads to forgiveness, hope, and reconciliation but he was willing to live it out. In other words, Jesus practiced what he preached.

NLT Philippians 2:7 says that, “ He made himself nothing; he took the
humble position of a servant and appeared in human form. 8 And in
human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s
death on a cross.”

Through his life which climaxed with his death on the Cross, Jesus provides an example for each of us to follow. The love he showed in being willing to die compels us to show love, mercy, and compassion for the world. In so doing, the message of Christ is carried forward through generations until the Kingdom of God is fulfilled on the earth.

Jesus summed it up this way when he said in Luke 9:23, “to be my disciples you must deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow me.” He never asks more from us than he willingly gave himself. Jesus makes sure that the path we are to follow is one that he has walked and shown the way for us.