Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42 NKJV)
What’s so wonderful about this story and the beauty in it is even while suffering and dying on the cross, our compassionate Savior looks past His own horrible ordeal to reach a lost soul. Here we have a thief, a criminal, guilty of his crimes and deserving death for those crimes, but Jesus knew he had a greater need, salvation.
The passage in Luke 23:26-43, gives us great descriptions of two kinds of people in this world. There are the ones who have done wrong, are guilty for that wrong, but don’t think they’re wrong. They are in need of help, in need of saving, but don’t think nor believe they need saving. Not only that, but they believe salvation, the grace of God, is foolish (1 Cor. 1:27). Their arrogance and stubbornness won’t allow them to believe in the invisible, all-powerful, the only living God.
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself-and us, too, while you’re at it!” (Luke 23:39, NLT)
Then, there’s the other type of person. They’ve done wrong, are guilty for that wrong, yet, they know they need to be saved. Because they know they need help, they’re desperate to believe in something so foolish as God becoming man. In desperation, they believe God gave up His royalty for rags, to live a life like a homeless man (Matt. 8:20). They confidently believe that a holy God (the Son) gave up all His riches, became poor, and gave His life for a sinful person.
But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” (Luke 23:40-41 NLT)
The sins of this thief have crushed him, broken him down, and in humility he pleads to Christ to be rescued. And with the simplest prayer, he prays, “Lord, remember me” (Luke 23:42).
So, right now, my sister, which side of the road do you stand on? Which thief can you relate to? The thief who has done the crimes, but not ready to change? Too foolish to know how badly we need a Savior. Or are we like the latter thief? Guilty of the crimes, ready to accept our punishment, and pleading for mercy.
It’s been said that when a sinner looks at herself and sees her wretchedness and the dirty sinfulness, that’s when her heart is open and ready to receive Christ. She is ready to change.
Have you made that change, my sister? May we know the freedom that our Savior gives to those who believes.
Happy Friday!
Encouraging You to Walk in Freedom! Copyright ©2010-2014. Rhovonda L. Brown. All Rights Reserved.
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