2017 Easter Message from the International President

Published on April 4, 2017

THE POWER OF THE CROSS!

As we approach Easter 2017, I challenge you to re-read the story of Calvary, or to sit and look at a simple cross,  whilst reflecting  on what it means to you.   I ask you to do this because the cross is, after all, the recognised symbol of the Christian Church of which we are all a part.

Interestingly, if you were to ask children what a cross meant to them, you may discover that for many, their first response would have nothing to do with the CROSS OF CALVARY.  A cross, they might well say, means you’ve got it wrong.   A cross is a sign that a mistake has been made! But is that not true, too, of the CROSS OF CALVARY?   It is a sign that we’ve got things wrong, made mistakes, or to use theological language we’ve sinned.  If we hadn’t made those mistakes there would be no need of the cross.

Others  will  tell you that a cross is  what you put after your  name when  you write a letter  or send a card – it’s a ‘kiss’  – a symbol of love. Again the parallel is there.  The CROSS OF CALVARY is exactly that a symbol of the LOVE of God almighty who gave His Son that we might live.

In some parts of the world the cross is also linked to the whole experience of making choices. It is the way votes are expressed in an election.  A cross next to a name means you’ve made a choice for that person. It’s a sign of our allegiance to someone’s beliefs, ideologies and policies.

The CROSS OF CALVARY also requires us to make daily choices as to the path we will take in life, whose teachings we will adhere to or whose lead we will follow.

                                           
In this year, when our GBI theme is BE EMPOWERED, we need more than ever, the power of the cross if we are to be effective witnesses and servants of Christ. We need to know our MISTAKES have been cancelled out by the LOVE of God who wants us to reaffirm our ALLEGIANCE to Him.

May you BE EMPOWERED as you pray this prayer:
‘I want to know Christ and experience  the mighty the power  that raised Him from the dead.’

Phil 3v.10

Easter Blessings to you all

Vivienne