Accessory or Necessity?

Be sure and join us today via the internet for our concluding services of this week. 9:30 AM -- Dr. Roger Willmore, and please note 6:30 PM with Dr. Bob Alderman -- www.americaskeswick.org

Accessory or Necessity?

I did it again! I changed my hairstyle! I have seen television shows where women are put on the spot to change their hair after 25 years. I will never be one of them! Hair is just an accessory!

Unfortunately, over the past years rock stars, celebrities, fashion designers have made an accessory out of the Cross. What is the cross to you?The Cross of Christ is not an accessory. It isn't shiny; it is stained with the blood of Christ. It isn't studded with diamonds; it was pierced where Jesus had nails driven in his hands and feet. It isn't beautiful (as we may think beautiful); it is where all our sins in all their ugliness were paid for. (Surely, we have the beauty of God's limitless love and grace because of the Cross!)

What does the Cross mean to you? Do you view it as an accessory? Just some component of Christianity? Do you go by the Cross quickly or have you ever lingered there? Do you only visit at Easter? Do you know the ending but have never given consideration to the process of what was done there? "If you think for a moment that the truth of the cross is something you've already adequately understood- if you suspect your life is already cross-centered- allow me to bring to your attention some symptoms that arise from not being cross-centered.

Do any of the following describe you?
1. You often lack joy.
2. You're not consistently growing in spiritual maturity.
3. Your love for God lacks passion.
4. You're always looking for some new technique, some "new truth," or new experience to pull all the pieces of your faith together." 1

"Too many of us have moved on from that glorious plan. (The Gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified.) In our never-ending desire to move forward and make sure that everything we think, say and do is relevant to modern living, too many of us have stopped concentrating on the wonders of Jesus crucified."2

Again, I ask you, has the Cross become an accessory or is it a necessity?

Kathy Withers is on staff full-time at the Keswick Book and Gift Shop. She is married to her husband, Dave and has two adult children. Kathy is active in her local church. Her passion is the Word of God and encouraging women to dig deeper into the truths of the Bible.