Key Scripture: Colossians 1:20

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Relevance

When Jesus was secured fast to those two lengths of intersecting timber, the multitude goaded Him, saying Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

Yet, they couldn't understand that he'd nailed Himself to it by His own will. Have we nailed ourselves to that same Cross with a matching self-abandonment by our own will? We escape our fate because of that Cross.

1400 years earlier, the Israelites found no way to escape their fate at the hands of the Egyptians. Their freedom didn't come until they came to their cross.

The Red Sea became an impassable obstacle for the Israelites. A cross if you like. The sea flowed North-South, and the path to freedom passed East-West across it—a cross that became a crossing to freedom. 

Their cross was needed then. God placed the obstacle and the path through it by faith. Death followed them, and only crossing in faith would secure their future. It had to be a cross, as it covers all directions. This showed that anyone at all who travelled on that journey in faith with the Israelites enjoyed the same privileges. Crossing was the only way to escape the impending doom.

Likewise, it must be a Cross for us too. Crosses, like crossroads, demand decisions. Anyone who comes to the Cross of Jesus through faith finds Salvation and escapes death.

As it was then, so it is now. If we want to be saved, we must pass through the Cross.

Prayer Heavenly Father, praise you for the crossings you have placed so often before us. We thank you that they are crosses of decision. We ask you to help us make the right ones in Jesus' Name.

Photo by Samuel McGarrigle