Beneath the Cross of Jesus

By Mark Largen

The cross of Jesus Christ stands at the center of human history, a place of suffering yet also a place of redemption.  As Jesus hung on that cruel wood, abandoned by most of His disciples, only a few devout women and the Apostle John remained by His side.  His enemies mocked Him, soldiers gambled for His garments, and the crowds passed by without care.  It was a place of rejection, yet it became the place where love and sacrifice met in their fullest expression.

Golgotha, the “Place of the Skull,” was not an inviting place.  It was a location of execution for criminals, a place of tombs.  His loved ones watched in agony as their Lord suffered.  His enemies perhaps experienced a degree of satisfaction in seeing Him crucified.

Yet, for Christians, it has become a place of refuge.  Beneath the cross, we find shelter in Christ’s sacrifice.  His suffering brought forgiveness, and His death gave birth to new life.

The world sees the cross as foolishness, but for those being saved, it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).  Jesus Himself called His followers to take up their own crosses—to deny themselves, to lose their lives for His sake, and in doing so, to find true life (Matthew 16:24-27).

The Apostle Paul echoed this truth when he declared, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).  The cross is not merely a historical event but a daily reality for those who follow Christ.  It is the place where pride dies, sin is forgiven, and hope is restored.

As the hymn so beautifully says:

“I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;

Content to let the world go by, to know no gain or loss;

My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.”

May we, like those faithful few at Calvary, remain near the cross—not as spectators, but as those who embrace its message and carry it into the world.

A Salute to a Young Christian Mother

By Larry R. Coffey

Francis Chan wrote a book entitled “Crazy Love” in 2013.  Here is a quote from that book.  "We are consumed by safety.  Obsessed with it, actually.  Now, I’m not saying it is wrong to pray for God’s protection, but I am questioning how we’ve made safety our highest priority.  We’ve elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God’s best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world.”

This reminds me of the Covid pandemic.  Many brethren didn’t attend the worship services for weeks, even months, and some never came back to the church.  That despite the multiple efforts made to provide a safe environment.  That is a once in a 100-year event.  But what about something more common: like the weather.

I have now been a member of the church for 65 years and I have never seen anything keep members away from worship more than the weather.  Something as simple as rain on Sunday morning will keep some away.  Heaven forbid what happens if there is snow or even a forecast of snow.  I want to review two recent weather-related events.

On a recent Sunday morning, it stated snowing about 8:00 am.  Up to three inches was predicted.  Of course, that kept a lot of folks at home.  But, not a young Christian mother with an infant.  She drove by herself almost 50 miles one way to be at worship.  I didn’t actually see her, but it was pointed out to me by one of the men.

Then on Wednesday night of that same week, it was predicted up to one inch of snow on that night starting after 9:00 pm.  I don’t know about others, but from my house to the building, the roads were as clear as any July night.  It did start to snow around 10:00 pm.  I have no lists of people, but I would estimate over one-half of the congregation was absent.

What about our young Christian mother?  Again, I didn’t see her, but a different man other than the one I have mentioned pointed out she was present with her baby.

Another Chan quote: “People who are obsessed with Jesus aren’t consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else.”

I am told these blogs have low readership.  I am not writing this to put down our members since most are not likely to read it anyway.  I have learned after 65 years, it would be a waste of time.  My purpose is to salute this young mother.  It is obvious to me she is obsessed with Jesus.  Plus, I would not have known this information if two of our men had not been so highly impressed with her, they had to share this news.  And she doesn’t know this is being written.

I am saluting her faithfulness, her example, her commitment and love for our Lord.  She makes me want to be a better person and to never allow safety to come before my commitment to serve my God.  As we read in Heb 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching.”

Psalm 107: A Celebration of God’s Steadfast Love

By Boyd Hurst

Psalm 107 beautifully captures the unchanging love and mercy of God through vivid stories of deliverance.  It begins with a universal call to gratitude: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever" (Psalm 107:1).  The psalm then highlights four scenarios where individuals cried out to God and were rescued, illustrating His faithfulness.

The Four Stories of Redemption:

1. Wanderers in the Desert (Psalm 107:4-9):  Lost and desperate, they found no city to dwell in, hungering and thirsting until they cried out, "Lord, help!" God led them to safety and satisfied their longing souls with goodness.

2. Rebels in Chains (Psalm 107:10-16):  Those who rejected God’s counsel suffered affliction, they were chained and overwhelmed.  When they cried for help, God shattered their chains, delivering them from the shadow of death.

3. The Foolish and Sick (Psalm 107:17-22):  Stricken by their own sins and near death, they cried out to the Lord.  He sent His word to heal and rescue them, calling them to rejoice and offer thanksgiving.

4. Seafarers in the Storm (Psalm 107:23-32):  Sailors facing a storm's fury were at their wits' end.  They too cried out, and God calmed the sea, guiding them to a safe harbor.

A Call to Reflect:

Psalm 107 emphasizes the power of crying out to God in times of trouble.  Each rescued group was called to give thanks for His goodness and wondrous works.  The psalm also emphasizes how God blesses the righteous and condemns the wicked.  It ends with a profound challenge: "Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord" (Psalm 107:43).

This psalm reminds us that no matter the situation, God's mercy is always near, ready to restore and renew those who turn to Him.  Let us give thanks for His enduring love!

Being A Disciple - Part 2

By Mark McCrary

This article continues from last week where the questions addressed were “What is a Disciple?” and “Why is it Important for Disciples to be Like Christ?”

What Is Expected of a Disciple?

The life of a disciple is marked by several key characteristics. First and foremost, a disciple is a learner (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus calls people to Him to learn and grow. Baptism marks the beginning of this journey, but it’s not the end. Continued learning—through personal Bible study, attending Bible classes, and listening to teaching—is essential for growth. This is why the early church made preaching and teaching such an important part of their gatherings (Acts 20:7).

Second, being a disciple requires following Jesus with total commitment (Lk 9:57-62). In the same way the disciples left their nets to follow Jesus (Lk 5:11), we are called to leave behind anything that would keep us from fully following Christ. Commitment is essential because without it one cannot receive the crown of life (Rev 2:10). This is one of the failings of the teachings of “once saved, always saved” and “preservation of the saints.” These teachings fail to understand why we are saved—to represent God.  If we fail to do so, we fail in our role as disciples and do not have the blessings that come to disciples.

For this reason, obedience is another vital aspect of discipleship. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Our love for Him compels us to obey His teachings, and that obedience transforms us. As Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2, we are to be “transformed by the renewal of our mind.” This transformation is evident in the lives of disciples who speak like Jesus, act like Jesus, and love like Jesus.

A true disciple also makes a public confession of faith (Matthew 10:32-33), openly declaring allegiance to Christ even when it is unpopular or risky (Acts 4:19-20).

Love, service, and sacrifice are further hallmarks of a disciple’s life, as seen in the early church (Acts 2:42-47). The early Christians lived lives of love and humility, drawing many to Christ through their example. Following Jesus may require self-denial and even carrying a cross (Matthew 10:38), but the life of a disciple is one of continued growth (2 Peter 1:5-10; Colossians 2:6-7).

Making More Disciples

Understanding discipleship reshapes the way we approach evangelism. The goal isn’t simply to "save" people from hell but to bring them to God and teach them to follow Him. Importantly, baptism is a crucial step, but it is not the journey's end.  In 1 Corinthians 1:16-17, Paul said he didn’t come to baptize, but to “preach the gospel.” The goal isn’t merely to escape judgment, but to live transformed lives that reflect “the gospel”—the good news of Jesus!

This, then, changes how we evangelize. Instead of focusing solely on warning people about hell, we lift up Jesus for the world to see (John 12:32). The best way to do so is not through fear of hell, but through love—God’s love for us and then our love for others.  This is the impact of Jesus’ teachings on our lives.  As disciples, we become living testimonies of Christ’s teachings (Matthew 5:16; John 13:35). Our transformed lives, marked by peace, joy, and purpose, become the most powerful witness to the gospel (1 Peter 2:12; Romans 12:2). Then, in words, we share the teachings of Jesus with others.

Conclusion

Being a disciple of Jesus is more than knowing facts or performing rituals. It’s about living a life that mirrors Christ, deepening our relationship with God, and showing others what a transformed life looks like. As we follow Him, we become reflections of His character in the world. This is the life Jesus calls us to live. Through our discipleship, we offer the world a better way—a life of purpose, peace, and joy in Christ.

God So Loved the World

By Paul Earnhart

God’s love for mankind has been expressed in more ways than we can count.  His creation of man was an act of love, to say nothing of the wonderful world which He made for our habitation.  He gave us eyes to see and mountains and flowers and colorful sunsets to behold.  He gave us ears to hear and the song of the birds and the roar of the ocean to enjoy.  He gave us the gift of taste and delicious food to satisfy our appetites.  Who can count the material and physical benefits He has provided?

But when we try to describe the love of God, all of these things become insignificant beside the gift He gave for satisfaction of our spiritual needs.  Jesus described it in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  God knew that the needs of the inner man are greater than those of the outer man.

God’s love is surely the greatest love of history, and it was expressed in the greatest gift of all time…the gift of His only begotten Son.  Its purpose was to rescue each one of us from the greatest possible tragedy: eternal death.  And to provide for us the most valuable blessing we can hope to attain: eternal life.

Our world does not now comprehend what God did.  Our thinking is so dominated by our concern for here and now, for the needs of our physical bodies, that most people give little attention to the needs of the spirit.  But one day, all of that will change.  Regardless of how we may prosper in material things, there will come a day when none of those things can help us.  When we come to the time of our death, the important thing will be our relationship to God.  If we are not right with Him, all will be lost.  Jesus is our way to God (John 14:6).  Only those who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  And belief in Him means full submission to Him.