Two thousand years ago, the cross was a sign of horror, suffering, and death. No one wanted to be associated with a cross, but now we think nothing of wearing a cross. One of my Lenten practices is to wear a cross each day. For me, this is more than a fashion statement– as I put it on in the mornings, I bring to mind the suffering of Christ, the weight of my sin, and the cost of salvation. It also serves to remind me that I am called to follow the suffering example of Christ as one of his followers.

During Lent, we are invited to seriously consider the words of Christ in Matthew 16. Jesus tells his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Lent is a time to explore what parts of our lives God calls us to lay down– what parts we are called to crucify. Our own way leads to destruction, but picking up our cross and following Jesus leads to life. Perhaps God is calling us to put to death gossip, pride, envy, or greed. God calls us to surrender the subtle sins that distract and entrap our hearts and lives.

Yet just as Jesus died on the cross and was raised to glorious life, we are reminded that God never asks us to surrender something without the promise of something better. The sins and selfish desires that we crucify will be replaced by holy desires and dispositions. In order to give the fruits of the Spirit room to grow, we have to prune the fruits of the flesh. May we all endeavor to heed God’s loving invitation to surrender sin, so we might experience the fullness of his life.

Pastor Nathan Weaver