The Old Rugged Cross
Monday, August 17
The Old Rugged Cross
As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:14
Throughout Holy Week, we celebrated the love of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem, was betrayed, arrested, and eventually hung on that “Old Rugged Cross.” The old rugged cross reminds us that God’s greatest gift came through what looked like humanity’s greatest tragedy. Jesus willingly endured the cross because of His love for us. The cross was not beautiful in appearance. It was an instrument of suffering and death. Yet through Christ, God transformed the cross into a symbol of forgiveness, redemption, and hope. When we sing “The Old Rugged Cross,” we are reminded that our salvation did not come because we were good enough, strong enough, or deserving enough. It came because Jesus loved us enough to give His life for us. Each day as we call upon the Father we should be reminded of just how much God loves and cares for us. “Take “The Old Rugged Cross” is a hymn that highlights the central symbol of our faith the cross of Christ.
Written by George Bennard, this hymn reflects on the sacrifice of Jesus and the glory of the cross: “So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.”
Sometimes we carry burdens, regrets, disappointments, or sins that we think we must carry alone. But the cross tells us otherwise. Jesus has already carried the greatest burden for us.
This hymn has helped believers from generations past and those to come express their gratitude for the salvation and grace that was offered to the world on that Old Rugged Cross. Singing this hymn brings us to the foot of the cross, reminding us of the immense love and sacrifice of Jesus. It calls us to cherish the cross as the source of our salvation and the ultimate expression of God’s love.
Today, let the words of this hymn turn your heart toward Calvary. Remember the price Jesus paid, but also remember the victory that followed. The cross was not the end of the story the empty tomb was coming.
Prayer for today: Loving Savior, thank You for the sacrifice You made on the cross for our salvation. As we sing “The Old Rugged Cross,” help us to remember the depth of Your love and to live in gratitude for all You have done. May we cling to the cross and find our hope and strength in You. In Your name, Amen.