The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: 1st Corinthians 1:18-25 / Psalm18:1-7, 17-20

“For the Word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
1st Corinthians 1:18

Two Pieces of Wood

Everything stands or falls on two pieces of wood. Take away the cross, and there is no reason for Holy Week. Take away the cross, and you might as well never again bring up the subject of sin. Denial will be the only way to “survive”. But there is no survival without those two pieces of wood and the Savior who was nailed to them. On that cross were the sins of the world – yes – our sins. Take away the cross, and we are left on a futile quest to settle matters with our Creator on our own. A sinful life against the backdrop of His perfect law will always bring hopelessness.
Imagine the quests on which some mistakenly embark – quests to conciliate God somehow before life comes to a close. These never-ending pursuits always fail to bring peace. So, it all stands on those two pieces of wood fashioned as a cross. If Christ had avoided Calvary, we would still be in our sins. The end would be too frightening to ponder. Instead, we meet death knowing full well that one sacrifice on those two pieces of wood was enough. One sacrifice, once for all.
Dear Jesus, thank you for making it clear in my heart that the way to the Father is by You and Your cross. Amen.

April 06, 2004