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Andrea Lende • May 20, 2020
Luke 23:42-43
Today
You can also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Today-eea1at
Luke 23:42-43
“Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come in Your kingly glory!”
“And He answered him, Truly I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
Of course, this was the interchange between Jesus and one of the men who was being crucified alongside of Him.
We don’t know much about this man.
The Bible tells us he was a criminal.
He led a life that was unjust and was paying the price for his actions.
And, yet, he knew the Power of the Almighty.
He reprimanded the other criminal for talking to Jesus in a less than reverent way.
In this discourse he said, “Do you not even fear God?”
The last words that are recorded of this man are, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingly glory!”
I love Jesus’ reply, “Truly I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
Jesus could have ignored the man.
But He didn’t.
After all, He was suffering terribly.
He could have told him that he hadn’t lived a just and pure life.
But He didn’t.
He could have told him that it was too late.
But He didn’t.
He even could have told him to repent for all things he done.
But he didn’t.
Jesus knew his heart.
He could see that this man had reverence for God and Him.
He not only offered this man eternal life, but Jesus assured him that he would have it TODAY.
This was an act of pure love.
The Lord loved this man as they were both dying.
He loves us too.
He loves us beyond our imaginations.
That’s what these verses meant to me today as I read them.
What a gracious and loving God we serve.
If I were up on that cross, I would have nothing but me on my mind.
Usually when I suffer, I am the one I can think about.
And, it’s all I think about.
But the Lord is always loving us.
He loved us on His worst day and His worst moment.
Today I am thankful that I serve a loving and merciful God.
May you find that the Lord loves you beyond measure and pours out His mercy to every single day.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for loving me beyond all my comprehension. Thank You for loving me wholly and perfectly. You don’t ask me to be someone else or do something else in order to love me. Thank You, most gracious and merciful Lord. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for me so that You can look upon me as perfect and beautiful. Thank You for allowing me to make mistakes that are quickly and completely forgiven and forgotten. Thank You for seeing the best in me, always. Help me to continue to grow in all ways, Lord. Help me love as You love, Father. Help me love Your people. You have made each and every one of us, and have a purpose for each of us as well. We are so fragile as human beings, Lord. We break easily and hurt one another. I ask for strength today and a growing wisdom with each new day so that I can withstand the enemies’ advances and keep my eyes on You. Help me love when love seems impossible. Make me merciful, Lord, as You are merciful. Help me give grace when I’d rather condemn. Make me like You, Lord. Help me bless someone this day, Lord. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I love you My child, and I will continue to lead you to Me and help you love more deeply and be merciful and gracious toward others.
Response: Thank You, most gracious and merciful Father and God.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.