The Meaning of the Cross, Day 17

Welcome to Day 17 of our “40 Days of the Cross” series. Each day we are taking just a few minutes to look at a word which will help us better understand the meaning of the cross. 

Today’s word is unity. Even back in the Old Testament, the importance of unity was expressed as a blessing. Psalm 133:1-3 says, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. It is like the precious oil on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.” The truth is this: God blesses us when we live in unity. We should be an example of what true unity is to the world around us. 

But what does unity have to do with the cross? When the apostle Paul was chastising the Corinthian church for their division, he specified that the problem was that people were throwing their loyalty behind different apostles. There was a lack of unity in the Corinthian church because people were saying, “I’m a disciple of Apollos” or “I’m a disciple of Paul”. 

Now it’s no problem to love a pastor (or give him birthday presents) but when that loyalty results in disunity, then it is harmful to the Church. So as an example of the foolishness of these arguments and division, Paul asks the following in 1 Corinthians 1:13, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?” The obvious answer is, NO! Paul is saying, “I wasn’t crucified for you! Jesus was!” Disunity happens when we look to men, unity takes place when we look to Jesus, crucified for us.
 

Today we still find unity in the cross. No matter your background, your skin color, your culture, your income, your personal history, your credit rating, your denomination, we are unified at the foot of the cross. Christ died for all upon the cross and as He was lifted up He drew ALL people to Him. We’ll talk more about the word “draw” tomorrow. Jesus’ death on the cross unified all those who will follow Him as their Savior and their Lord. 

After we pray today, please take some time to meditate on how we are unified under the cross. 

Heavenly Father, across the world, we as believers are unified under You. I thank You for the cross which provides that unity. Help us, Lord, to not be distracted by petty differences, but rather embrace the blessing of family that You have provided for us. In the name of Jesus, amen. 

Thanks for listening/reading today.

Continued tomorrow