Luke 23:43, “Verily I say
unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
The second
saying of Jesus when He was being crucified was, a statement granting pardon
and salvation to the thief on the cross beside Him. Rather than condemnation, Christ pardoned the
penitent thief who was justly being crucified for his crimes. The impenitent malefactor said, (Luke 23:39) “…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? He then
ask Christ, (Luke 23:42) “…Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” This man had done wrong and was being
crucified for his wrong doings. In the
last moments of his life He asked Christ for forgiveness and we know that
Christ forgave him because Jesus said to him, “Today shalt thou be with me in
paradise.”
I marvel at
Christ’s reply, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Even when Christ was suffering on the cross,
He responded to the sinners request for forgiveness. Oh, that God will make us more like
Jesus. May our prayer be that even when
we suffer we will care for the souls and welfare of other people. Surely, becoming more like Christ will
include a genuine concern for the lost.
It is my prayer that God will cleanse me of all self-centeredness.
Song for the Day “Others” by Charles D. Meigs
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