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Meet You At The Cross
Matthew 18 starts with an important question, that shapes the whole rest of the chapter. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus begins the explanation in a simple way, he puts a child in their midst, to teach them humility. You see, the question, who is the greatest is not what’s important. What’s important is being in the kingdom of God. Its really all that matters. He continues to tell of the story of the lost sheep, with the rejoicing that comes when one comes when the lost are found. Jesus is pointing them away from their pride, teaching them humility, and then showing that the crux of all this is God’s mercy.
So then we get to the section with today’s verses. Jesus is discussing brothers sinning against each other and the proper means to deal with that. There’s an explanation of the proper modes of dealing with one Christian going against another, and at the end of the section, he proclaims today’s verse. The context I just discussed is vital to his statement. This verse is about unity, and unity that comes in Him. This unity is found in understanding mercy. He desires that we seek out unity for the sake of the body, in order to show mercy through out differences.
This plays a role in our prayer life when we come to Him corporately. He desires that we be unified in vision. How do we get there when sometimes we all want different things? Humility and mercy. Being the greatest is being like the least of these. We may all come from different ways, but in prayer, we all meet at the cross.
Being a musician, this reminds me a song. It’s called “At The Cross” by Justin McRoberts. Here… take a listen:
Chris, thank you for your insight this morning. To answer your questions honestly, I do not pray coporately enough, or even with a kingdom mind set enough. I am pretty easy to get along with and don’t often struggle with others, but where I do not see eye to eye is with people I don’t know. I fight my own judgemental attitude and I fail to love. So my prayer, and maybe others will pray this with me, is to love others with the same mercy and grace that Christ loves me. I believe this is in line with his kingdom, and I hope that I am not alone in my need to love others more.
I love Colossians chapter 3. Paul tells us through Christ that we are to put off the old man and take on the new. We are all together. There is neither Jew or Gentile. In verse 12 He tells us to “put on bowels of Mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” I love it because it reminds me of what I need to do. Truly love!
Thanks for the song that was cool. It helped seal the message for me today. I’ll meet you at the cross.
It is very cool working for a Christian school. We are going to get to goto the cross this morning in prayer. We are truely blessed in this country to have the freedom to pray openly.
Meeting at the cross made me think of a story from last summer’s mission trip in Greece. When our team was preparing to distribute Bibles, we would usually pack the cars full, pray and then drive to our towns. One of the days camp was way too hecktic and we needed gas. So we drove to the closest gas station filled up. We then pulled away from the pumps to pray. We circled up and asked the Lord to use the Bibles for His kingdom. We drove off. Later that night another team told about a discussion they had with the gas station worker about God. That person wanted to know if they were with the group that had been praying earlier. The fact that we prayed effected them greatly. Prayer opened doors. That worker was touched by HM’s love for their town. Pray with me (two or more) that God’s word in Greek homes will greatly affect people’s lives. Thanks
Chris,
Religious studies and zoology: Thus, you are uniquely qualified to lead the CCC band. One thing I love about the worship team, the band specifically is hanging out with a bunch of folks who have in common the love of Christ first, and then a love of music. There’s a growing unity there – can I say “love” – even when we get irritated with each other over the details. We pray for each other and we pray together. We work things out because we don’t want to walk away from each other.
I have talked to many who claim Christ, but regarding the Church or perhaps “church,” they can take it or leave it. They have no problem walking away. They believe a solitary journey is quite all right, just as good, and maybe better than relationship and community in church, and the irritations and challenges that come with it. Perhaps some are called to walk alone, not as many who seem to be on the detour.
I see in the Bible and I have personally experienced that it does not take many to be a church, maybe two or three, but it is absolutely essential for us to be together. God designed us that way. He wants us to grow together in prayer and relationship and be united in Him. Otherwise our prayers will only be “ours.”
agreeing and coming together at the cross — in the name of Jesus — that’s when prayer becomes power. Great song. I will carry this throughout my day. It’s funny how a verse like Matthew 18:19 can so often be pointed to ME (and getting what I want), but in context means just the opposite. I’m such a sheep.
Jesus, help me to meet others at the cross EXACTLY BECAUSE of our differences. Jesus, help me to extend the grace of the cross to others. Show me how to supernaturally agree and come together with those who don’t see things like I do, but still look for Jesus.
Thanks Chris for the devotional this morning. Being a music person – I especially enjoyed having a song to drive the message home!
What an awesome promise in this verse….”if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father”. It’s funny (well not really), the first thing my selfish mind thought as I first quickly read over today’s verse was that if I could get 2-3 people to pray with me for a new car….I’d be all set. But of course, that’s not what it’s all about. Like you said, he teaches us about humility and then unity in these verses. When we come to Him in humility & then gather with others in unity, we are not going to be asking him for selfish desires, but for things that will spread His love to others. And those are the prayers I know he is just waiting for us to ask, so He can answer them!
Thanks Chris for sharing your insights on Matthew 18…and the song…it really helped me ponder things a bit more. I’m with Valerie, Alan and the others…I’ve typically read this verse with my “me” glasses on or in a way that either my head or heart weren’t really engaged to get the real message (or both!). Thanks for peeling back that onion for me this morning.
Lord, please give me a heart of humility and unity as I approach others…as we approach You. Please help me, help us, see You more clearly, more vividly through the varied perspectives You give us. How cool. Thank You for Your Word…for being so much bigger than my 1-demensional, narrow view of things. Thank you for your Son and the cross.
Chris, how cool is it that you taught us today about unity in prayer meeting at the cross. When you look at the word agree in the text it is from the greek word sumphoneo meaning to sound together. The word symphony comes from sumphoneo. When I think of how you lead music, I see this as an example of this text. The worship music brings sounds together in harmony. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus is teaching us that our corporate prayer should do the same thing?
Fancy meeting you here…. =) and that’s fine by me.
Chris, thank you for sharing with us with clarity.
Thanks Chris I will end the day .There is such power in being together. To ask God together.Thanks for the reminder.