CROSS TO BEAR

cruelty and pain, he has to look beyond himself and see God’s redemption plan for the world.

Over the next 40 days we want to deepen our appreciation for all that Christ did on the cross and understand what it means to live a life through the lens of the cross, to respond to the invitation of Christ to look ‘beyond me’ and realise that we are not only partakers in God’s redemption plan, but are also called to participate in his mission to redeem our families, our communities and our world.

When Jesus took up his cross, it was an active choice that he made. He came to bring the Kingdom of God to the world and, in doing so, took up his cross. When we use the phrase ‘[ ] is my cross to bear’, we are describing something that has happened to us. This is not the call that Jesus is making. Jesus is calling people to make an active choice. A choice, as he says in Mark 8:35, ‘for my sake’ (New Living Translation).

I’ve known people who have given up things like TV, sugar, coffee or certain foods for Lent. Others have given up time. A friend of mine gave up an hour each day that he normally spent sitting in front of the TV and went for a jog. It took a considerable amount of prayer and effort to abstain from these habits.

As we give up a normal part of our daily lives, let us remember that in a small way we are dying to ourselves. The Christian life is a life of dying to self. It is a life of taking up our crosses. As we feel the loss of what we’ve given up for Lent and rise to the challenge of moving ‘beyond me’, let us remember that we are making an active choice for Jesus’ sake.

A friend asked me recently to think about what my crosses are. Some of them are very challenging, while others are just petty annoyances that I would prefer not to have to deal with. Jesus says I must deny myself. What does that mean? What do I deny? Wanting my own way? Wanting things to be easy or comfortable?

In Qualities of a Spiritual Warrior,

Graham Cooke suggests the challenges we experience in life are opportunities to see God acting in us in ways we would not otherwise experience. What is he teaching me? How can I grow in love, trust, and deep faith in him? How does he want to purify my heart so I can see ‘beyond me’ and be united in his love?

We have an opportunity to grow in our ability to trust him and to build our joy as we focus on his victory in faith rather than seeing the struggles on the way there. We don’t embrace the cross for the sake of the cross; we take up the cross as a way to the Resurrection.

Based on Beyond Me: A 40 Day Devotion for Lent, available to download from salvationist.org.uk/resources

A Lent Journal

Have you ever considered the discipline of journaling to enhance your faith? This book features the lyrics of 40 hymns, followed by a Bible verse for the day and an extra Scripture reference for those who want to go deeper into that day’s theme. There’s also plenty of space to doodle or write down reflections.

Available to purchase from sps-shop.com

Let’s Rebuild Together

This call to prayer uses the book of Nehemiah to get back to basics and reflect on what The Salvation Army is here for: to declare the good news. It is an invitation to put aside past challenges and come together to rebuild our Movement’s resolve to transform lives, strengthen God’s Kingdom and celebrate his love.

Download from salvationist.org.uk/resources

Beyond Me

Major John McLean (Hendon) has written a 40-day Lent devotional that explores what it means to be redeemed by God. He encourages you to look beyond yourself and spend time with God for a fresh encounter. Each entry invites you to read, reflect and respond to God’s word.

Download from salvationist.org.uk/resources.