Friday Reading: Luke 23:39-43
Key Verse: Luke 23:42
42 And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.
Devotion:
I wonder how many times you have thought of the significance of the three crosses when Christ was crucified. Why were there crosses? Well, when we look into what happened that day we find the answer and the answer is that God wanted to make one more point that we should never forget. What an awesome stage to show us just how much He loves us, but what an awesome moment that is missed by so many people.
The two criminals were being crucified because of what they had done in their lives. When we do things wrong we can expect to have to pay in some way for what we have done wrong. Even now when we do something wrong we still have to pay for it – if we steal and get found out we have to pay for it in some manner, be it a fine or even a jail sentence. These criminals were now paying for the terrible things they had done wrong; but Jesus was innocent. The one criminal follows on from the people around and tempts Christ by saying “If you are Christ then save yourself and us!” because he had not quite realised what was happening. But the other one realised that Christ was innocent and that He was being offered as our innocent and pure sacrifice for our sins.
Realising his sins he turned to Christ and simply said “remember me when you get to heaven”. He did not think that he was worthy of forgiveness from what he had done wrong in his life, but Christ forgave him there and then. No matter what we have done wrong in our lives it is never too late to admit to those things and to ask for His mercy. Christ is faithful and just to forgive us just like He forgave that criminal on the cross. The point is that we have to first believe on Him and then admit our sins to Him. We don’t have to beg Him for mercy because He offered it first – all we have to be is honest in our belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and laid down His own life for our sins and then to bring those sins to Him.
Points to Ponder:
Do you feel guilty?
Have you admitted your sins to Christ?
