When we are weak is when we see God's greatest strength because that is when we call on Him most. The cross should be our central focus because it is why we are here. We can't keep trying to make Jesus look white collar and neat and tidy to fit into modern cultural boxes and norms. So many people leave the church because they were drawn by a sermon, not by what Jesus did for them on the cross. We shouldn't be ruled by emotion, but if you are serving God without emotion, you're missing out on Jesus. The cross demands a response - you either believe He is the son of God and died for us or He isn't. We have watered Him down and made Him less than He is, but without the true Jesus, we have nothing. It is impossible to live in a worldly way, keeping your feet partially in the world, and trying to also follow Christ. We must be prepared for what comes with the cross - persecution and rejection, but also fullness of life. We have to wrestle with the hard message that Jesus must come first - before our families, before our own lives; we can't just add him to our bag and carry on. If we love God and chase after Him with all we have, our love for others will multiply. Let's not, however, take the meat out of the Gospel to make it more palatable to share. Jesus meant to be offensive when He spoke about drinking His blood and eating His flesh. He was thinning the crowd because many were following Him to chase miracles and not to find a Savior. Let us feast on the Word of God because it is what gives us life. What are you holding onto that is keeping you from getting more of Jesus? Lay it at the foot of the cross today!

Amen!

Reference verses: 2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Luke 14:25-35; Mark 11:24-25; John 6:53-68; John 10:10