The Triumph of the Cross

Mark 8:34 - Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

1 Corinthians 1:18 - 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.

The Cross exemplifies the tragedy of betrayal by Jesus’ close friend Judas, the trauma of Christ’s suffering – and death because of our sin and His triumphant victory over sin and death – His resurrection.

In this issue of 2020, we explore the power and the relevance of the Cross in our lives, as 21st century Christians. We will discover afresh that it is central to Christ’s message for our lives and a key ministry ethos for New Life Movement International.

Jesus calls us to make a choice to follow him. Not an emotional momentary response but a willful lifelong decision to follow him. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

Our walk with Christ is no casual stroll through life. It is often beset with pain, suffering and challenges - which He uses to shape and form us into the nature and character of Himself. If we are ever going to be like Christ then we will have to learn to endure suffering, and with joy, embrace the Cross of Christ so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

Our nation is in the midst of a revolution against corruption. People and especially the youth are looking for a new way of life – authenticity; which we know can only be found in a relationship with Christ. In today’s corrupt world we must be willing take a stand for Christ and be examples of the power of the Cross at work in our lives vardenafil otc.

Romans 12: 1-2 - So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

My prayer is that every one of us at NLMI will take this stand for Christ as we follow Him, showing ourselves to be mature authentic disciples of Jesus.