“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43, ESV)
As we read in our Bible, there were two criminals who hung there beside Jesus, one on each side. One of them mocked him and hurled insults at him (refusing to believe). The other, knowing that he deserved the punishment that he was getting, felt the overwhelming power of saving grace (He believed).
In Luke 23:42 he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." And then in Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
This should encourage all who hear about Jesus and his sacrifice not to put off their decision to believe and accept Jesus as savior, until the last hour. In Luke 12:40, Jesus says: You also must be ready, (for his second coming), because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Hanging there on the cross was most likely the first time the thief had the opportunity of knowing anything about Christ.)
At the time you believe, accept, and repent, you are filled with the Holy Spirit to guide you here and now, and the promise of being with Him in paradise forever.
[Devotional thought written by Bill Lawless]


Recent Comments