The Cross is Not a Suffering

The way of consecration is an exercise today

To stay in spirit

faithfully

denying self this way.

The choice of source remains before us every day to choose

Between the soul and spirit

death and life

to gain or lose.

The cross is not a suffering.

The cross is our release.

Deny the self

enjoy the Lord

And live by life and peace.

The Christ we know is crucified — experience of the cross

Allows us to enjoy His life and count ourselves but loss;

The sense of life and death within us functions as a gauge

Equipping us to live Christ in the Body in this age.

The cross is our deliverance

Our entrance into grace

To deepen and increase our joy

In Christ

His way to trace.

Draw closer to the Lord and drink the river of supply

With every choice and turn allowing Christ to occupy

Our heart in all its inward parts

as open as can be

Maintaining our enjoyment of the Lord continually.

The cross is termination

Of all we are

the end

The stripping off of everything

But Christ

with God to blend.

God’s glory in the face of Christ

His presence inwardly

Compels us to deny the self and follow faithfully;

As deep as His restrictions go

the riverbed is laid

For that’s how deep the river flows

God’s life to us conveyed.

The cross is but a threshold

That opens up the way

For life to flow within us deeply

Till we’re swept away.

The churches are the house of God. His presence limits us.

He’s standing at the gate and holds a reed to measure thus —

Examining and testing

He is judging to possess

Our inward being by the living flow that swallows death.

The cross brings in the river

That flows out from the house

Toward God’s effulgent glory

Like the Bride to her espoused.

“The marriage of the Lamb has come

” will soon be heard by all

“His wife made herself ready

” proving naught can life forestall.

Around the bend

the Lord will come and gather up His saints

Those ready for His coming

loving Him without constraints.

The cross is truly God’s way;

The way that we go on!

Enjoy life’s bountiful supply

And glory in the Son!