And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, if thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. - Luke 23:39 – 43 - KJV
One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, "Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong." And he said to Jesus, "Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!" Jesus said to him, "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me." - Luke 23:39 – 43 – Today English Version
One of the criminals believed and received Jesus as his Savior. He did it at his last minutes of his death. He has not done anything yet for Jesus. He has not given his tithe yet to the church. Even, he has not been baptized in water. But, Jesus said that he would be with Him in Paradise. What a blessing! This does not mean that we can do anything we want in life and then when the time for us to die arrives we can suddenly repent and ask for His grace to forgive us and cleanse us from our sins. We never know if we have that chance. If we have known Him, let us serve Him with our whole heart because it is a privilege to serve the King of kings.
This man, the criminal one, had decided to receive Jesus and follow Him – even thou there was no time left to do something for Him. Why did he do this? He revealed his reason with his words, “…we are getting what we deserve for what we did”. He knew that he deserved to be there because of he had done. He realized that he was a sinner. He knew he was unworthy to receive forgiveness but he also knew that he needed God’s grace. This man knew that deep inside his heart, he needed a Savior. He knew that he was nothing. No one would receive him, maybe even his family. And, amazingly enough…. he decided to receive Jesus and asked Him to remember him. He followed Jesus because of his unworthy feeling.
How many of us have that feeling? How many of us know that we are nothing without Him? How many of us know that our voice, our talents, our ability to sing His songs and to lead people in worship, is actually from Him? How many of us can truly understand that all things we have in life are His possession? I believe that each of us should have this attitude that without Him we are nothing.
One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, "Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong." And he said to Jesus, "Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!" Jesus said to him, "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me." - Luke 23:39 – 43 – Today English Version
One of the criminals believed and received Jesus as his Savior. He did it at his last minutes of his death. He has not done anything yet for Jesus. He has not given his tithe yet to the church. Even, he has not been baptized in water. But, Jesus said that he would be with Him in Paradise. What a blessing! This does not mean that we can do anything we want in life and then when the time for us to die arrives we can suddenly repent and ask for His grace to forgive us and cleanse us from our sins. We never know if we have that chance. If we have known Him, let us serve Him with our whole heart because it is a privilege to serve the King of kings.
This man, the criminal one, had decided to receive Jesus and follow Him – even thou there was no time left to do something for Him. Why did he do this? He revealed his reason with his words, “…we are getting what we deserve for what we did”. He knew that he deserved to be there because of he had done. He realized that he was a sinner. He knew he was unworthy to receive forgiveness but he also knew that he needed God’s grace. This man knew that deep inside his heart, he needed a Savior. He knew that he was nothing. No one would receive him, maybe even his family. And, amazingly enough…. he decided to receive Jesus and asked Him to remember him. He followed Jesus because of his unworthy feeling.
How many of us have that feeling? How many of us know that we are nothing without Him? How many of us know that our voice, our talents, our ability to sing His songs and to lead people in worship, is actually from Him? How many of us can truly understand that all things we have in life are His possession? I believe that each of us should have this attitude that without Him we are nothing.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. – John 15:4,5
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