January 18, 2026
The Work Of The Cross Within
A Servant Leader’s Invitation to Die, Surrender, and Be Formed by God
For the servant leader, the cross is not merely the place where Jesus died—it is the place where we are invited to live. It is not a concept to be studied, a message to be taught, or a symbol to be admired from a distance. It is the very method by which God transforms a life from the inside out. Jesus made this unmistakably clear when He said, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). This is not a one-time decision, but a daily surrender. The cross is where self is confronted, where our will is challenged, and where the hidden motives of the heart are brought into the light. It is not comfortable, and it was never meant to be. Yet it is the only path that leads to true life.
Many attempt to walk with God while avoiding the cross, but this creates a form of godliness without power. We may learn language, develop gifting, and even function in areas of ministry, but without the cross working within us, the foundation remains unchanged. Scripture tells us, “Our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing” (Romans 6:6). This means the cross is not simply something Jesus endured for us—it is something we are called to participate in with Him. The cross targets the root of the problem, which is the self-life: our need to control, to be seen, to protect ourselves, and to live independent of God. Left untouched, this self-life will shape everything we do, even in ministry. But when we allow the cross to do its work, something deeper begins to take place.
God does not usually explain the cross—He applies it. He brings us into situations that expose what is within us: difficult relationships, misunderstandings, delays, hidden seasons, and moments where we are not recognized or affirmed. These are not interruptions to our calling; they are the very tools God uses to fulfill it. James writes, “Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2–3). What we often try to escape is the very environment where God is forming Christ within us. The cross is often disguised in the everyday tensions of life, and in each moment, we are given a choice: defend ourselves or surrender to God.
To take up the cross means we relinquish our rights. We no longer insist on being understood, validated, or repaid. Instead, we entrust ourselves to the Father, just as Jesus did: “When He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). This kind of surrender is not weakness—it is strength under the control of the Spirit. It is here that love begins to be formed, not as an emotion, but as a nature. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). This is the love that flows from the cross—a love that is steady, sacrificial, and not dependent on how others respond.
There is also a fellowship in this process that many overlook. Paul speaks of “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10), revealing that suffering is not meaningless, but relational. It draws us into deeper union with Christ. As we share in His death, we also begin to experience His life. Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). The fruit we desire—changed lives, true authority, lasting impact—can only come through this kind of death. There is no shortcut. There is no substitute. The depth of what God produces through us will always be connected to the depth of what He has been allowed to do within us.
The work of the cross is ultimately carried out by the Holy Spirit. We do not crucify ourselves through effort or discipline alone. Rather, we yield to the Spirit who “works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). He reveals what must be surrendered, gives grace to obey, and produces new life where death has taken place. Over time, the evidence becomes clear. There is less striving, less need for recognition, and more peace in surrender. Love grows deeper, patience becomes steadier, and the presence of God becomes more evident. “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24).
For the servant leader, this is the foundation of everything. We are not called merely to speak about the cross—we are called to be shaped by it. It is here that true authority is formed, where the life of Jesus begins to be revealed through us. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). This is the invitation set before us: not to avoid the cross, not to redefine it, but to embrace it. For in losing our life, we will finally find it, and in dying with Him, we will walk in the power of His resurrection.
