Living Every Day in the Shadow of the Cross
Many times, the words that we use in our prayers are shaped by the words that we hear others praying. Sometimes we need to evaluate our prayers and ask questions like, “Is what I’m saying consistent with Scripture?” Or “What exactly do I mean when I pray that?” A phrase that I often use in my prayers is a request to God (and a reminder to myself) to help me “live every day in the shadow of the cross.” I’m not sure where I picked that up, but it is one that I want us to explore, today:
May the cross overshadow anything we might boast about in ourselves. If we’re not careful, we can become overly concerned with résumé, accomplishments, and notoriety. But the Christian should be most concerned about the cross being in the spotlight while we fade into the shadows. Whatever talents we have, whatever good we have done, whatever recognition we receive – none of it compares to what Jesus did at Calvary. Paul could have boasted in his pedigree, his zeal, or his education (Phil. 3:4-8), yet he counted it all loss “for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.” When we stand in the shadow of the cross, we are choosing to set pride aside in order that Christ may receive the recognition, and not we ourselves.
May the cross be the place we seek protection from our sin and failure. Imagine standing under a massive oak tree at high noon in the summertime of Texas. Summer will be here before we know it and finding that giant shade tree brings great relief – and great protection. While the heat still exists, it is incapable of consuming you because of the shelter the tree provides. In the same way, the justice of God is real, but for those who stand in Christ’s shadow, the wrath that should have fallen on us fell on Him. Jesus spoke of hell as a place of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43–48). Yet He Himself endured the judgment we deserved. The cross of Christ, in effect, shelters us from the fire. Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions… and with his stripes we are healed.” The cross is not merely a symbol of suffering; it is the shelter from divine wrath. To step outside of that shadow is to be exposed to an eternity of misery. But to remain beneath it is to know peace with God (Romans 5:1).
May the shadow of the cross be the place where our sins are “hidden.” Many think that “if I’ll just do enough good, my good deeds will outweigh the bad.” But our deeds that are promised to be “brought to light” in judgment (Ecc. 12:14) can only be obscured and “hidden” by the shadow of the cross. Jesus’ radiance and brightness stand in such glorious and striking beauty that those who seek refuge from the wrath of God in it will find that their sins are no longer visible to God. But trying to obscure our sins with any good deeds of our own is like a child trying to hide a hole that they put in their wall with a small Band-Aid. It doesn’t work. Because of what Jesus has done, when we put our faith in Him, He stands as our advocate – both providing shelter from the wrath of punishment and advocacy for us as ones whose sins should no longer be seen. This does not mean we pretend sin never happened; but it does mean we can live as though our sin has been addressed fully and finally. Colossians 2:13–14 declares that God has forgiven us “all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us… nailing it to his cross.” Furthermore, Romans 8:1 assures us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
As tempting as it is for some, may we never step out of the shadow of the cross in search of a sliver of limelight. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14).