The Ridge > Articles > Sacred Obsession

Sacred Obsession

Jerry Witham
Jan 26, 2009
Series: Sacred

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But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6.14

So, what have you been obsessed with this week? Has the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ dominated your thoughts, feelings, time and life? I pray that God would give you a great love, passion, and desire for the cross of Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 1.18 Paul says, For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. The message of the cross is not the boast of this world. This world glories in the things of the flesh. The cross is absurd to the self-centered. But, why do they not get it? Paul says, A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised (1 Corinthians 2.14). The gospel has not penetrated the core of their self-centeredness. Human reasoning is still the master of their life. But Paul says those who do have the Spirit of God have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2.16). Those who have had their soul penetrated by the gospel now have a renewed mind. They no longer are conformed to the thinking of this world, but instead they think like Christ. Paul calls God, the only wise God, through Jesus Christ (Romans 16.27). God is wise and there is no other God. Therefore, there is no other well of wisdom. He is it. How does such wisdom come to us? Paul says, through Christ. The cross is the road to and of wisdom. Outside of the cross we stay as foolish people.

On a practical level this applies to every area of life, including such things as your marriage, parenting and even your job. I was reading in Exodus 31 this morning about a skilled craftsman. In this section of Scripture the tabernacle is being constructed and the Lord has prepared gifted artisans to do the work of construction under the detailed instructions of Moses. The Lord designated the specific man who would be the principle artisan for the tabernacle. This man is Bezalel, which means in the shadow of God (Exodus 31.2; New Illustrated Bible Commentary, Allen, 1999, p. 139). God told Moses, I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship (Exodus 31.3-5). God empowered this uniquely gifted man (wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skill), Bezalel, by means of the Spirit of God to work on the tabernacle befitting a holy and magnificent God.

God provides wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skill through the Holy Spirit to do every good and perfect work that He calls us to. When the boast of the cross of Jesus is present in your life the Holy Spirit is empowering you to be wise, full of understanding, knowledgeable and ability. So, do not forget to come after Jesus whether at work or at home or wherever. Don’t check out from denying yourself, taking up your cross daily and following Him (Luke 9.23). Otherwise, we will rely on human reasoning and worldly knowledge. When we boast in the cross we appraise all things spiritually. When we glory in the cross wisdom is gifted by God. We need this in every sphere of our life.

I love how one man in another part of the world boasted in the cross. The world would say this is foolishness, but the gospel says different. I received this first thing Monday morning. Carl Moeller writes, When Najee made the decision to turn from Islam to follow Jesus, he knew his life would never be the same. He had found what he had searched for all his life! And despite his fears, Najee told his wife he had become a Christian. Being a devout Muslim, Najee’s wife felt obligated to tell her father… who in turn shared the news with the local imam. A few days later, Najee’s body was found… with a Bible taped around his body with a single gunshot through the Bible. Why is this a wise thing on behalf of this man who was killed? This is wise because He shared the gospel with his wife, with those who killed him through his death and now he is with Jesus. Not only that, but his death is not in vain like those who die in foolishness. His death will bear fruit. This is what Paul was talking about in Galatians 6.17 where he says, From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. The life of this saint truly bears the marks of Christ. Though foolish to the world this is oh so wise!