WHEN THE LORD REMEMBERS YOU (17)

Post date: Jul 24, 2019 3:50:04 AM

God’s plans for your life is much more than your best dreams, your words, your deeds of goodwill and goodness and your best desires; they are much more than your prayers for anything and your best successes in life. His plans will change you and change things; they will bring you up and out from every captivity and condemnations and insults and frustrations and disappointments; they set you up om high and establishes your ways and deeds for the best; they contain peace and direction, hope and assurance, security and guardian and they can never be compared with whatever any man in any position and with any authority on earth can and will ever offer.

The true story of the Cross and of Jesus Christ is always appealing and relieving. in one of such stories is the exchange with the thieves that were hanged on the Cross with Christ Jesus, one on His right and one on His left. The two thieves know they did commit the crime and admitted it before all; they knew they merited their convicted and their sentence. they admitted their guilt but there was no way they could escape the sentence and the dead penalty. While handing there on the cross with Jesus Christ on another Cross between them, they heard what the soldiers and the people were saying to Jesus Christ and they saw what they were doing to Him; they saw that nothing they did to Christ Jesus was done to them. They desired to be freed but it was too late while on that cross. One of the thieve openly challenged Jesus Christ and asked Him to deliver himself and them also from the punishment and death on that cross.

It is interesting to know what the other thief replied his colleague, what he said to Christ Jesus and what Jesus said to him in return. In a swift reaction, he immediately rebuked his colleague in crime, admitted their acts of stealing and the penalty on the cross, they deserve for their actions, and at that same moment acknowledges that Christ Jesus was not treated fairly, that He was being punished the same way they were being punished for committing no crime, he acknowledge Christ as Lord and the only demand he made to Jesus, was ‘remember me when you come into your kingdom’. This thief knew where Jesus Christ was going even though He was on the Cross, even though He was condemned and even though He is going to die. The thief was able to ask Christ for one thing, “remember me”, he did not ask for release, did not ask to punish those who arrested them and condemn them, did not ask for anything but to be remembered, and it is interesting and amazing to know the reply that Jesus Christ gave to him immediately even though he was still on the cross and ready to die. ‘Jesus said to him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’. that thief died peacefully and with a better and assured hope for himself while the other one died in anger and pains.

“There were also two criminals led out with Jesus to be put to death. When they came to a place called the Skull, the soldiers crucified Jesus and the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, Father, forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing. The soldiers threw lots to decide who would get his clothes. The people stood there watching. And the leaders made fun of, sneered at, mocked Jesus, saying, He saved others. Let him save himself if he is God’s Chosen One, the Christ, the Chosen One. The soldiers also made fun of him, coming to Jesus and offering him some vinegar. They said, if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. At the top of the cross, these words were written; this is the King of the Jews. One of the criminals on a cross who was hanging there began to shout insults at Jesus; aren’t you the Christ? Then save yourself and us. But the other criminal stopped and rebuked him and said, you should fear God. You are getting the same punishment he is. We are punished justly, getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus said to him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise, the presence of God.” Luke 23:32-43. God will remember and reward you. There are hope and assurance in Him for you even in your present situation. Prayer Request Click here