His Cross, Our Friend

For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. - Philippians 3:18

Is it possible for someone who has benefited from Christ's sacrifice on the cross (conversion) to be an enemy of that same cross? It seems so. In fact, at times, it might have even been me.

Before you begin to feel all "sanctimonious" it might be good to remember that the Apostle Peter once found himself at odds with the sacrifice of Christ. You see, the cross demands death to self-exaltation, self-ambition, self-protection, even self-awareness and any time any one of these qualities is found in our lives, we (for a moment at least) become an enemy of that cross.

Is it avoidable? Of course, but the answer is to continuously embrace Christ's cross. We often speak of the need for a person to "run" to the cross of Christ for salvation, we must also continually run to it for progressive sanctification. Jesus said it best, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me (Luke 9:23)."

So, there it is. In order to avoid becoming its enemy, the cross of Christ must in every way remain our friend.

We are bid to take, not to make our cross. - William Gurnall