Devotional Verses From Paul's Letters To The Christians In Galatia And Corinth

For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 
1 Corinthians 2:18
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Galatians 6:14

     By now the statement of an Al-Qaeda Islamic extremist has been reported around the world. He said "We must eliminate the cross. The bearer of the cross is America!" And, thus exposed the foundation of extremism as religious hatred. Christians, Americans, those who live in Western civilizations where freedom and opportunity has been a result  of the faith of the cross, we are the targets of Al-Quaeda and other Islamic extremists.

     By faith, those who trust in Jesus, the Savior who died on the cross, know that the cross is set down in the center of God's heart and in the center of God's universe. The cross is the symbol of God's love for all people, including the Al-Qaeda extremists. Wicked sinners, false religions,  ruthless-faithless governments have all tried to eliminate or exterminate the cross; from Roman emperors to modern murderers. It cannot happen, and will not happen because God is the God of the cross.

     That is why we, who are believers in Jesus, and have known the new life experience He gives, join with the apostle Paul and glory in the cross of Christ, now and forever.