1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
If someone were to ask you, “What is your main focus in life?” Or “What do you look to for inspiration?” Some might say, “My family,” “our country,” or “helping people.” When Paul reflected on what was the most important thing in his life he said, “Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
Jesus and His crucifixion meant to Paul some of the following things: (1) the Old Testament law had been fulfilled; (2) Jews and Gentiles could receive forgiveness for their sins by the blood of Jesus; (3) the way was now open to have a relationship with God as a Father; (4) the Holy Spirit could dwell within the hearts of all disciples; (5) the Jewish Messiah had come and established the Kingdom of God in His Church; (6) the Father had amazing blessings to give, through Jesus, to His people; and, (7) one day soon, the Messiah would come back to judge the world and live with His people!
If Jesus and His crucifixion was so important to Paul, that He wrote, “I resolved to know nothing” except those two things; shouldn’t we make Jesus and the cross the center of our lives, too? I believe, like Paul, that every disciple should be cross-eyed in life. We should never get tired or bored at looking at Jesus and what He did for us.
When we are cross-eyed in life we don’t see our troubles, fears, worries, hurts, sins and the past anymore, because all we see is what Jesus did to set us free from bondage (John 8:36).
Billy Graham said, “God proved His love on the cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’” When times of temptation come, look to Jesus and the cross for victory. When your past tries to sneak back into your present, stay focused on the cross and the new life Jesus purchased for you with His blood. When people hurt you or break your heart look to Jesus and His cross to find healing and inner peace.
In everything you do and in every situation, stay cross-eyed!
Reflection
Action
- Repent if anything other than Jesus and the cross has been your focus in life.
- Place all your attention on Jesus and His cross.
- When temptations and trials come — stay cross-eyed!
