Last week, I began sharing some short passages from the book God’s Blessing for You. Today’s passage is from Max Lucado’s Experiencing the Heart of Jesus:
“Jesus’ forgiveness is a done deal, accomplished at Calvary. However, ‘Calvary’s trio’ of the crosses reminds us we must personally accept that and embrace this gift in our lives.
“Ever wonder why there were two crosses next to Christ? Why not six or ten? Ever wonder why Jesus was in the center? Why not on the far right or the far left? Could it be that the two crosses on the hill symbolize one of God’s greatest gifts? The gift of choice.
“The two criminals have so much in common. Convicted by the same system. Condemned to the same death. Surrounded by the same crowd. Equally close to the same Jesus. In fact, they begin with the same sarcasm: ‘The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.’
“But one changed.
“One of the criminals on a cross began to should insults at Jesus: ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Then save yourself and us.’ But the other criminal stopped 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.’
“Much has been said about the prayer of the penitent thief, and it certainly warrants our admiration. But while we rejoice at the thief who changed, dare we forget the one who didn’t? What about him, Jesus? Wouldn’t a personal invitation be appropriate? Wouldn’t a word of persuasion be timely?
“There are times when God sends thunder to stir us. There are times when God sends blessings to lure us. But there are times when God sends nothing but silence as he honors us with the freedom to choose where we spend eternity.
“Have we been given any greater privilege than that of choice? Not only does this privilege offset any injustice, the gift of free will can offset any mistakes.
“Think bout the thief who repented. Though we know little about him, we know this: He made some bad mistakes in life. He chose the wrong crowd, the wrong morals, the wrong behavior. But would you consider his life a waste? Is he spending eternity reaping the fruit of all the bad choices he made? No, just the opposite. He is enjoying the fruit of one good choice he made. In the ed all his bad choices were redeemed by a solitary good one.
“No matter how many bad choices you have made in the past, they are redeemed by one good choice – to follow Jesus. Will you make that choice now? Not only will your life be impacted for eternity but your life on earth will have purpose.”
There is nothing I can add to this one!
“Jesus’ forgiveness is a done deal, accomplished at Calvary. However, ‘Calvary’s trio’ of the crosses reminds us we must personally accept that and embrace this gift in our lives.
“Ever wonder why there were two crosses next to Christ? Why not six or ten? Ever wonder why Jesus was in the center? Why not on the far right or the far left? Could it be that the two crosses on the hill symbolize one of God’s greatest gifts? The gift of choice.
“The two criminals have so much in common. Convicted by the same system. Condemned to the same death. Surrounded by the same crowd. Equally close to the same Jesus. In fact, they begin with the same sarcasm: ‘The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.’
“But one changed.
“One of the criminals on a cross began to should insults at Jesus: ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Then save yourself and us.’ But the other criminal stopped 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.’
“Much has been said about the prayer of the penitent thief, and it certainly warrants our admiration. But while we rejoice at the thief who changed, dare we forget the one who didn’t? What about him, Jesus? Wouldn’t a personal invitation be appropriate? Wouldn’t a word of persuasion be timely?
“There are times when God sends thunder to stir us. There are times when God sends blessings to lure us. But there are times when God sends nothing but silence as he honors us with the freedom to choose where we spend eternity.
“Have we been given any greater privilege than that of choice? Not only does this privilege offset any injustice, the gift of free will can offset any mistakes.
“Think bout the thief who repented. Though we know little about him, we know this: He made some bad mistakes in life. He chose the wrong crowd, the wrong morals, the wrong behavior. But would you consider his life a waste? Is he spending eternity reaping the fruit of all the bad choices he made? No, just the opposite. He is enjoying the fruit of one good choice he made. In the ed all his bad choices were redeemed by a solitary good one.
“No matter how many bad choices you have made in the past, they are redeemed by one good choice – to follow Jesus. Will you make that choice now? Not only will your life be impacted for eternity but your life on earth will have purpose.”
There is nothing I can add to this one!
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