As we live in the light of the Empty Tomb, we’re exploring how a risen Savior transforms how we live in the world each day. Here is the third of five lessons:

IN WORD The life of faith begins with a confession of bankruptcy. In order to accept our Savior, we must accept our need. We cannot have His righteousness without denying our own; we cannot have His holiness without confessing our sin; and we cannot receive His redemption without owning up to our bondage. We are bankrupt before Him, and fools if we do not know it. The beauty of the Cross is its ugliness.
God left us no aesthetic religion to idolize, no self-effort to perfect, no Law to fulfill. He completely undid us by doing it all Himself. The way to become godly now is not to become godly; it is to declare our ungodliness and cast its cost on Another. The way to become pure now is not to be pure; it is to declare our impurity and ask for the heart and mind of Another.
The way to live is not to seek life; it is to die and let Another live in our place. We thought the wisdom of God would be to make us better people—through works, service, intellect, philosophies, religion, and more. But in His wisdom, Jesus did not come to make us better. He came to do away with the old entirely and to birth something new. We take hold of that by embracing the ugly, ignoble Cross. Only then can newness come.
IN DEED The third lesson of wisdom from the Cross is this: Never despise the humble appearance of God’s plan. Make no mistake—the Cross was not at first gilded with gold to adorn our steeples and necklines. It was first a place of disgrace. It was the symbol of death. It was brutal and ugly, horrid and shameful. But it was God’s way! From the foundation of the world, He ordained that His priceless treasure be dressed in very plain clothes. If you’re ever tempted to avoid the unattractive path God has planned, turn to Jesus on the Cross. See Him as a reminder that priceless treasures are in broken vessels. “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy Cross I cling.” – Augustus Toplady (in “Walking with God” by Chris Tiegreen)

The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 is the essence of our otherworldly life in Christ. Take a chapter a day and meditate in the Spirit on whether you reflect the attributes described. Then close with 2 Corinthians 4 and ask the Holy Spirit to help you experience the “treasure” of our life in Christ. Have a blessed week! - from Singapore, Pastor Sam