By heart today:
“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” Lk 23:42 NIV
Guilt is not the problem. It is what we do with it that makes all the difference. If we know who God the Father is, that He is Love and desires to be reconciled with us. If we know who God the Son, Jesus is, that He is our Lord and Savior who has already paid for the forgiveness of all our sins: past, present and future. If we know who God the Holy Spirit is, that He is our Counselor, Comforter, Teacher and so on. If we even begin to know who God is, then we will also know who we are in Christ. We are forgiven, redeemed, dearly loved, reconciled, adopted into God’s Forever Family…forever! Do we know who we are in Christ or not?
Please notice this thief does not question what Jesus has promised. He knows who Jesus is, his long awaited Messiah, the only one who could bring him into Paradise, and so he is confident that what Jesus promised, will happen. One can almost see the relief wash over him…his companion on the other hand? His is another story altogether.
Last week, we talked about the two potential destinies each human faces after this world. This amazing scene is another example of God displaying this very truth, and right here as Jesus is paying our debt with His Life. On one side we see the thief who began ridiculing Jesus, but then was so moved by this King of the Jews, that he surrenders his life to Jesus with the simple confession we have been memorizing. On the other side, is the companion who refused to acknowledge the authority of Jesus…he was not granted entry into Heaven, but will languish forever in death, far away from the love of God. Not because this is what God wanted, but because it is what he chose.
My friends, if you have never made this decision, won’t you stop and have a serious conversation with your Creator today? and if you have, then won’t you share it with others today? Today…it is all we are guaranteed this side of Heaven, let’s not waste it.
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12; 15- 2Chron 20:15b; 16- 2Chron 20:17
May: 17- Ro 8:28; 18- 1Co 13:13; 19- Php 2:12; 20- Mt 5:4
21- Lk 23:42
<>< Peace, Diane
