When others are putting down Jesus, stand up for Him. When people blaspheme His Name, call them out. Lift up the Lord for He desires our honor and praise. It is taught that if we lift up the Name of Jesus and call upon His Name, we are saved. Just as the thief on the cross, on Calvary, was convicted of his faults and turned to Jesus. Though He was being put to death, by the people, because of His great sins, the Lord took Him in. All it took was a change of heart. As He was found convicted by the love of Jesus, he began to lift Him up. He witnessed to the other thief that He was a good man. It is written, “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.” Knowing death was imminent He turned from His sins to Jesus. He called upon the Lord and asked Him to remember Him in His kingdom. The scripture continues, “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” How amazing is it when a person gives their life to Jesus. This man surely knew He was in jeopardy of hell but that Jesus could save Him. He knew that Jesus is the way to heaven and he looked to Him. In the Lord’s great compassion, he said to the man, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” The mercy of God was upon him and with open arms He received Him in paradise. That day, the man’s life was changed and will forever be with the Lord in heaven.
There is always a time to repent for our sins. Even, near death, Jesus will accept us if we give our lives to Him and believe. However, nobody knows the hour of our death and Jesus’s return, so the hour of repentance is now. Jesus will have mercy on us if we are sincere and turn away from our sins. He knows that we are all led astray through sin but He is always waiting for us to call on His Name. As we live in our wickedness he says to the Father, “forgive them; for they know not what they do.” He knows we are led astray but is waiting with outstretched arms for us to come into His fold. Know that, each time we take the Lord’s Name in vain we mock Him. When we walk in the ways of the world this means to the Lord that we are choosing it over His holiness. Just as it is recorded, “And the soldiers also mocked him”. We do the same thing, each day that we do things not pleasing in His sight. In all this, there is forgiveness and mercy. Jesus is pleading for our case to the Father. Come unto Him and He will redeem your lives from death to life. When Jesus took me in, my life was changed forever. He became the King of my life. I gave Him all my shame and in return I was given His grace. A free gift of eternal life. His love was poured out on my soul. I can feel His peace all around me. Thank You Lord, Jesus, for the cross. You suffered and died that we might be forgiven from our sins. Your great love was demonstrated when you had compassion upon the thief and myself. For this, I know that Your love has no bounds. You will always accept us if we repent and turn to You. Convict me Lord, each day of my life of my sins. Help me to walk in Your holiness. I love You.
Luke 23:33-46 (KJV)
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Romans 10:13,14 (KJV)
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Reblogged this on lacostagifford.