Musing – Are We Living in the Shadow of the Cross?

 

Hebraic Musing – Are We Living in the Shadow of the Cross?

It seems some shrinking churches are still trying to preach the gospel of the Cross, while other churches are growing because their messages are designed to attracts and please the world by edifying the individual.  Are they preaching the mercy of God before preaching the judgment of God?  The judgement of Almighty God is what makes mercy meaningful!  Some have said the weakness of the Church in America is because 90% of the pastors are not ready or willing to preach about consequences of sin, especially sins that may offend congregants. 

Why are there some Commandments and sins not being preached from pulpits in America?  Why do we put a newborn baby in a crib with padding, instead of putting the baby out on the front lawn?  We love the child and want to protect him/her from danger.  Shouldn’t we be ready to confront our neighbors about the sins they are committing (whether they are saved or not); to protect them from the consequences of those sins and the ultimate danger of condemnation at the final judgment?

The world is judging behavior based upon human passions and feel-good desires, thus Sin is running rampant. And we have a plethora of actors, athletes, news commentators and pastors promoting world-think! 

I am so concerned with the anti-Christian “Left” slanted new media, I need to recommend these daily news sources I use to keep in touch with the conservative view or “right’s” view of news and events: 
 1. The Epoch Times – Newsletter@epochtimes.com  or  https://www.theepochtimes.com/newsletter
 2. The Daily Signal  --  https://www.dailysignal.com/     From The Heritage Foundation
 3. Newsmax.com     -- Also available as a TV station

The world is judging based upon the world’s viewpoint(s).   In contrast, what example did Paul give us in Galatians 2:20?  “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  NKJV    We are called to put ourselves on the cross every day.  Every morning we are to die to ourselves, crucified with Him; then we spend the day living for Jesus.  That’s a personal funeral and a resurrection every day for each of us.

What would happen if we viewed the world throughout our day with the same view that Jesus had as he was hanging on the cross looking out at His people?  With that view, it is easier to die to myself, and realize I need to live for the Lord, viewing world situations the way the Lord Jesus Christ did and not from the way the world does.  Jesus saw sinful people around Him who needed to recognize their sins so they could then seek mercy.

Since the last great awakening there had been about four generations of “easy” preaching about the saving power of the cross.  “Easy” because all one has to do is simply accept Jesus as their “personal” Savior, but not necessarily as their LORD! 

Key Point – How can we “raise the Cross” so the nation can see and consider what Jesus was seeing as He gave His life on the cross?  Jesus knew He was dying for the sins of the world.  How much different will the world look to us if we view ourselves, our families, our church, our neighborhood, our nation through the eyes of Jesus on the cross?  We are all in the Shadow of the Cross!

Points to ponder

Do you die and get resurrected in each of your morning devotions?

What did Jesus see?  What was He thinking while He was hanging on the Cross for us?

How are our neighbors, friends and family hurting themselves?

What can I do to get the world to recognize there is a Godly authority over all of us?

♫  At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light And the burden of my heart rolled away,
            It was there by faith I received my sight…    ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      November 2, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings” http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

Note – Inspired/excerpted - Tom Hatley’s 1/24/21 message “Missions Casting the Shadow of the Cross” Matthew 24:14