Crosswalk.com

Girlfriends in God - July 12, 2007

July 12, 2007

A Simple Wooden Cross

Sharon Jaynes

 

 

Today’s Truth

“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” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV).

 

Friend to Friend

The sea breeze blew the tangles from my knotted nerves as a choir of various birds sang revilee to greet the day. Myrtle bushes, bursting with fuchsia blossoms added splashes of color to the sandy landscape. Jumping fish performed acrobatic feats for an audience of one.

 

Perhaps my favorite place in the entire world is the beach. God seems to speak to me through each intricately carved sea shell, soaring gull, and majestic wave. On this particular spring morning, I had gotten up before the others stirred from their slumber to have a cup of coffee with the Lord. I sat rocking on the cottage porch surrounded by coastal beauty and watching the water of the lazy canal meander by. As I was talking to God and thanking Him for all the splendor of His creation, He urged me to look closely at a reflection in the water. My eyes followed the wavy reflection to the side of the canal where there stood two pieces of weathered wood, forming a simple cross. Upon closer inspection, I realized that this was actually one end of an old forgotten clothesline, but to me it was much more.

 

I knew at that moment the beams were there just for me. The owner may have viewed them as a clothesline in disrepair, but this cross was God’s reminder to me that in the entire majesty of His creation, the cross of two wooden beams remains the most majestic of all. Two simple beams display to the entire world for all time the surpassing greatness of His love, the incalculable riches of His grace, and the unfathomable depth of His mercy to all who will believe. More beautiful than any blooming flower, more melodious than any song of my feathered friends, more powerful than the surf of the sea is the cross.

 

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for the cross. Through the work of Jesus on those two simple beams of wood, You have given me eternal life. I pray I will never forget Jesus’ incredible sacrifice. Yes, the world may think the cross is foolish, but it is the power of God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

 

Now It’s Your Turn

  • What does the cross mean to you?
  • How would you explain that to someone who doesn’t know Christ?
  • Why is the cross called the power of God?

 

Have you, like me in this story, ever felt that God placed something right before you as a special gift or reminder of His presence?

 

More from the Girlfriends

Did you know that God is speaking all around you and in your life? Would you like to learn more about how to hear His voice? If so, you might enjoy Sharon’s book, Becoming a Woman who Listens to God.

 

 

Girlfriends in God

P.O. Box 725

Matthews, NC 28106

www.girlfriendsingod.com

 

 

 

Click here to learn more about hosting a Girlfriends in God conference in your area.