For me the cross of Jesus always reminds me of the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37-39. The vertical represents our relationship with GOD and the horizontal represents our relationship with others. This is also in line with our call as a Kingdom Family: Genuine Love for God and Genuine Love for Others.
But first the message of the Cross is JESUS. He was crucified and now the empty Cross shows us that HE is Risen.
18 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 Cor. 1:18
The Cross is also you – Jesus in you.
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20
14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Gal. 6:14
As we mature, God is making our cross bigger and bigger. Jesus is lifted up. Our lives reflect more and more of Jesus because of our relationship with GOD and the many lives we touched with our cross.
The first MEE
Our vertical relationship defines who we are in Christ. This is our core being, our life first principles, our beliefs, our purpose, our worship etc. In encountering the Father’s heart, we have learnt about the Father’s love and who we are. When the strong winds and earthquakes come, if this relationship is not strong and rooted deep in the foundation of Christ, we will fall or get hurt. This vertical strength enables us to reach out to others in our horizontal relationships. Make Every Effort to strengthen your vertical relationship daily.
Noticed that the vertical is always longer than the horizontal on the Cross.
The second MEE
With the strength of the vertical we can reach out to many around us. The horizontal relationships radiate from the centre of our cross starting with our loved ones. Sometimes the most rewarding and painful relationships are the ones that are closest to us. When these relationships are strong we are embolden to reach out further along the horizon but when we are hurt GOD “repairs” us from the core.
Our fruit from Gal 5:22-23 are hanging on the horizontal beam for others to eat and be filled. These are also the road signs to point others to Jesus. Our horizontal relationships are never about us. It’s about helping and caring for others so that they can see Jesus. Make Every Effort that our fruit is readily available.
I just want to conclude that Making Every Effort is not striving. When our vertical relationship grows bigger, the horizontal will naturally expand itself. There is a dynamic in the spiritual realm that when you draw near to GOD, GOD will draw near to you (Jam 4:8). Making Every Effort is being Obedient. Obedience is LOVE.
Prayer of Blessings Eph 3:16-21
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.