“It is to the cross that the Christian is challenged to follow his Master: no path of redemption can make a detour around it.” – Hans Urs von Balthasar
Sanctification is a big word. We generally look at the cross in the context of our salvation. Jesus saved us by His work on the cross. He made right what we did wrong. The cross, however, is about more than fixing our mistakes. Its power is unleashed in us in order to change us, make us different, reshape our hearts, give us new eyes, and ignite a fire within us that enables us to walk with God in the right way today and tomorrow. That is sanctification – the transforming power of the cross at work in you today.
Here is a list of ten things the cross compels us to do:
- Worship
- Surrender
- Give
- Love
- Speak
- Imitate
- Pray
- Celebrate
- Repent
- Be transformed
My Jesus Resolution today is to embrace the challenge of the cross. I will be honest. Too many times I want the joys of salvation without accepting the challenges of sanctification. I want to be different without wanting to change anything. The cross compels me to move out of my comfort zone and more deeply into the example of Jesus. Transformation is what the cross is all about. Sanctification is the process by which I learn how to daily die to self and live a cross-shaped, resurrection-empowered life. Accepting a challenge is never easy, but in taking on this challenge I learn how to take on the image of Jesus.
Casandra Martin 
Leave a Reply