Lent Arrives to Remind Us of True Meaning of the Cross of Jesus Christ

 

God's Unconditional Love Demonstrated through His Son's Cross

OA churches and ministries will offer Ash Wednesday Service to commence the Lenten period of 2019. In this season, Christians enter into another profound time of the liturgical year after Christmas to meditate on the theme of Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Churches take part in special Bible Studies that illuminate the Lord's suffering and love.

Congregants are called to remember God's unconditional love demonstrated through His Son's cross. With repentance and prayer, believers also participate in this forty-day path to be renewed in knowing God's love more deeply.

Suffering is a centerpiece of the Christian message that continually brings people to see the Lord's death on the Cross. Apostle Paul wrote that children of God should "share in his sufferings" in order that they can share "in his glory". (Romans 8:17)

Believers are called to meditate on the true meaning of suffering and its reason. The Lord said: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) It is suffering that the Lord voluntarily took in love to give his life as sacrifice for others.

In the life of Jesus, love is not an abstract concept for logic or philosophy. It is a sincere act of "laying down one's own life": Sacrifice. At the climax of this sacrifice lies the Cross where Jesus shed his blood and suffered for sinners. The Cross, on which the Lord became a flawless sacrifice, demonstrated what true love is to the whole world -- a world that could have been left in ignorance and darkness.

The path of the Cross until Resurrection calls every believer in this Lenten season to ponder how much sacrifice the Lord had borne and how much sacrifice we are ready to bear to follow the Lord.

You Know Your Labor in the Lord is Not in Vain

Before a call to follow Jesus, Christians sometimes hopelessly withdraw and step back like two disciples going back to Emmaus. The turning point when they opened their eyes and saw the Lord of resurrection came when they participated in breaking bread, an action that signifies breaking of Lord's own sacrificed body. The passage in Luke 24 tells us that taking part in suffering is the way for believers to see the Lord who stands in the glory of resurrection.

This endlessly deep and profound message of death and life, cross and resurrection, suffering and glory, should let us fully fathom the core message of salvation in the time of Lent.

The Lenten messages proclaim, "At the end of the Cross, there lies a brilliant world of resurrection. Likewise, the suffering of the righteous secures the reward of the glory God grants."

It is a special time that allows churches to gain the greatest power and strength of resurrection.

The Apostle's encouragement resonates throughout the entire period of churches' meditation on suffering: Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain!

 

 

Also Explore

Paul’s Method of Mission, “I Make Myself a Slave to Everyone”

Paul’s attitude and philosophy of his mission work are clearly stated in this verse; he served and worked as “a servant of Christ.” A servant, doulos in Greek, was a term Paul used to indicate his self-identity as he served the Lord. A voluntary life of devotion and sacrifice for God's Kingdom was a basis of

Learning to Listen to God

I recently had a student ask, "How can I balance my everyday life with my spiritual life?" I told her my immediate answer of: "There should be no separation." However this brought up another question that I'm sure the student meant to ask, "How can I center my life around God in my everyday?" It's a crucial question

2019 New Year Prayer for Southeast Asia

Oh Father God, after passing the eventful last year, we thank you for allowing us to greet this new year 2019. Throwing off all the old and stale things, may we be strengthened with our Father God in newness. Allow this day to be the day of joy where we start anew. In this day of history, Father God has loved us.

That Questionable Suffering

We delude ourselves when we try to turn our just punishments into a cross and rejoice over that for which we should rather repent. 'For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently' But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God? (1

Events
  • 28
    Oct
    27th General Assembly

    World Olivet Assembly announced its annual 27th General Assembly to be held in headquarters in Dover Plains, New York

  • 25
    Oct
    13th Anniversary of Elim Center International

    Elim leaders from around the world are scheduled to gather in Kirkwood, New York on October 25th.

  • 30
    Aug
    Nehemiah Project in New York

    Nehemiah Project in New York holds conference for Olivet Centers managers and staff to share reports and plans towards 2020 tasks from August August 30th until September 2nd.

Resources ⟶

World Olivet Assembly believes in equipping believers with theological and practical resources that would enable them to advance the work the gospel.

Also Explore
About world olivet

World Olivet Assembly (WOA) is a global gathering of evangelical churches and para-church organizations existing for the advancement of world mission.

resources

World Olivet Assembly believes in equipping believers with theological and practical resources that would enable them to advance the work the gospel.

COPYRIGHT © 2007-2019 WORLD OLIVET ASSEMBLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.