The Way of the Cross Leads Home
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18
I must needs go on in the blood-sprinkled way,
The path that the Savior trod,
If I ever climb to the heights sublime,
Where the soul is at home with God.
Then I bid farewell to the way of the world,
To walk in it nevermore;
For my Lord says, “Come,” and I seek my home,
Where He waits at the open door.
Do you need the rest of home today?
Perhaps you are unsettled due to discord in some aspect of your life, or you are weary from the many earthly battles that we face. While we will face these battles as long as we live upon the earth, I have good news for you, very good news, the best news. That is that our Savior, Jesus Christ, offers us a place of rest, comfort, kindness and love if we will but come to Him.
The struggles and suffering in this life are very real, but there is a Savior we know who offers us real hope, too. Perhaps you just needed the reminder.
When God spoke through the prophet Zechariah to His people after their many afflictions, caused by their own wandering, He said in Zechariah 9:12, "Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double." That is the nature of the God who created us all. He is loving and kind to all He has made, and though they were looking forward to the cross, God still brought them to it, to the hope that it offers.
The beautiful hymn written by Jessie B. Pounds in 1906 says it so beautifully, with the words every bit as meaningful now as when they were penned so many years ago:
I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but this;
I shall ne’er get sight of the Gates of Light,
If the way of the cross I miss.
I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but this;
I shall ne’er get sight of the Gates of Light,
If the way of the cross I miss.
Refrain:
The way of the cross leads home,
The way of the cross leads home;
It is sweet to know, as I onward go,
The way of the cross leads home.
The way of the cross leads home,
The way of the cross leads home;
It is sweet to know, as I onward go,
The way of the cross leads home.
I must needs go on in the blood-sprinkled way,
The path that the Savior trod,
If I ever climb to the heights sublime,
Where the soul is at home with God.
Then I bid farewell to the way of the world,
To walk in it nevermore;
For my Lord says, “Come,” and I seek my home,
Where He waits at the open door.
Matthew 16:24 reminds us, "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"
May you lay your burdens down and come home to Him today.
Goodnight, Runners.
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