By Peter and Michelle Maher
The Range Church, Montville
IN a world searching for meaning, peace, and identity, the message of the cross still stands as the greatest act of love ever displayed. Yet, many stop at simply coming to the cross, receiving forgiveness and salvation, without ever going through it into the life Jesus died to give.
Coming to the cross is the moment of surrender when we recognise our need for a Saviour. It’s where we exchange guilt for grace and begin a new life with God. But it’s just the starting point. The real invitation of Christ is to go through the cross and let His sacrifice transform us from the inside out.
Jesus said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Following Jesus isn’t about a one-time prayer or a Sunday faith. It’s about daily surrender. Going through the cross means allowing God to strip away pride, selfishness, and offence, so His grace and power can shine through us. It’s a journey of discipleship.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). That’s not religion; that’s transformation. When we truly go through the cross, we don’t live for our plans or remain in our pride. We live for the One who gave everything for us. We begin to love like Jesus, forgive like Jesus, and serve like Jesus.
If you’ve never come to the cross, today is the day. Jesus died so you could live free, not bound by sin, guilt, or shame, but alive with purpose. And if you’re already a believer, maybe God is calling you deeper, beyond the point of salvation, into the power of transformation.
The cross is not the end of the story; it’s the doorway into a new one. Don’t settle for standing at the foot of it. Walk on through. Let His grace transform you, and watch His Kingdom take root in your heart, where love replaces fear, forgiveness heals all wounds, and life becomes a reflection of the One who gave it all.