Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to "Joni and Friends" where we love to sing.
Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.
Don’t you love that hymn? The most peaceful, most safe and secure place to be is beneath the cross of Jesus. Sometimes it can be a pretty lonely place, though. Not many people - not even many Christians - get excited about cleaving to the cross of Jesus. You want to know why? It's because the cross is the place where you put behind you pride and selfishness. It’s a place where you die to sin. Think about it: The cross is where Jesus died for your sin; and so, the cross is where you die to your sin. That's why when you are beneath the cross, it's just you and your Savior. Other people can't do anything about your willful, wild, stubborn desires, only Jesus can do something about those things. It’s just you and your Lord. But, oh, when we lay down our sin at the cross, then God's peace, direction, and guidance is so much more clear. And it happens when all the clutter and noise is set aside, and we choose to be alone with God.
But wonderful things happen when you are alone with God at the cross. I mean, look at the biblical record: Abraham was alone when God spoke to him about becoming the father of a nation. Moses was alone when the Lord revealed Himself through the burning bush. Paul was alone in the Arabian Desert when the Lord gave him personal instructions about preaching the Word. John, the Apostle, was alone on the island of Patmos when he received revelations from Christ Himself. Mary was alone when the angel brought her the message that she would give birth to the Son of God. Isaiah was alone when he received his commissioning straight from heaven. And Elisha was alone when the Lord placed on him the mantel of Elijah.
We could keep on going talking about Joshua being alone, Jacob, and Daniel and so many more. If you want a word from the Lord, if you need to hear from Him, to gain His wisdom and direction or help or hope, if you need to die to the world, to the flesh and the devil … Most of all if you need to die to our own willful, stubborn desires, then find solitude and safety. Confess your need of Christ in the shadow of that cross; find solitude on Mount Calvary. Hide beneath that cross of Jesus Christ because when you are there, alone with your Savior, (oh my goodness, nobody else can help you with this) lay your sin down and find peace and strength, hope and help and power from on high. Romans 6:11 says, "Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." And that is worth singing about—beneath the cross of Jesus Christ.
© Joni and Friends
Used by permission of Joni and Friends
P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376