The Old Rugged Cross

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness… When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:6-7, 13-15 

Never forget the cross where Jesus Christ died. There was victory on that cross. Do you remember the song, “The Old Rugged Cross?” Jesus Christ has paid the price of shedding His precious Blood on a wooden cross. Let me share the words of “The Old Rugged Cross” and you can read it or sing it out loud as it brings back many memories to your heart:

The Old Rugged Cross
by George Bennard
Public Domain

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and
best for a world of lost sinners was slain. 

(Chorus) So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown. 

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his
glory above to bear it to dark Calvary. 

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see, for ’twas on that old cross
Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me. 

To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share.

Are you willing to choose to pick up your cross and follow your Lord Jesus Christ? Let’s read the passage in Matthew 16:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”  Matthew 16:24-27 

You need to seek the Lord’s will in your prayer closet before you allow others to direct you on to a detour road toward separation, divorce or giving up standing for your marriage being restored in God’s perfect timing.

God’s perspective is not going to be the world’s popular way. I pray you will not listen to other people’s opinions, but seek and grow in the Lord with new fervor and with a tenacious spirit of perseverance, wanting to do only His will and His way for your marriage. Your pathway may seem to be very crooked right now, but allow the Lord to straighten out your life and marriage.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.  Proverbs 3:5-7 

Surrender your life and marriage to your Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only One who can change your current circumstances by rebuilding and restoring your marriage. The Lord is the only One who can touch and change your spouse’s heart. The secret in our marriage restoration was that I chose to seek the Lord after our divorce, to rebuild our marriage starting with the Lord changing me first. I also knew that I was to wait forever for my one flesh covenant marriage to be resurrected from the dead and restored. Never stop praying and believing for your spouse’s salvation.

May you never forget that there is freedom in Jesus Christ. Yes, it may take time. You will have to pick up your cross, choosing to follow your Lord Jesus Christ as you crucify your own sinful nature daily.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  1 Corinthians 1:17-18 

Our Lord God wants everyone to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ first in their lives. This Lord’s Day, pray that your husband or wife’s spiritual eyes, that are blinded by the world and Satan, will be opened to see God’s truths. Jesus Christ is alive! Your marriage that appears to be dead, will come back to life again!

God bless,