MAY 22

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

Revelation 2:7

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches  ‘ To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.’”

Ephesians 1:20

“which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,”

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”

1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Ephesians 2:5-6

“even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”

1 Chronicles 29:14 & 16

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this?

For all things come from You,  and of Your own we have given You.    O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own.”

We will be reading from a book by Erwin Lutzer, President of Moody Bible Institute.  It’s a short book about Christ’s sacrifice for us.  It’s called simply, “For Us.”

Luke 23:39-43

“Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’   But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”   And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’”

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”  The Bible doesn’t elaborate on his crimes.  He’s just a common thief, who, at first, joined in the mockery against Jesus.  Observing Jesus’ behavior as the crowd taunted “the King of the Jews” planted a seed.  With a few of his precious last breaths, he humbly begged Christ to think of him.

The thief admitted he was being punished justly.  If we’d known him, we might have said, “Serves him right.” 

Let us remember that we are also thieves.  God gives us life and everything we possess, and yet we go off and serve our own interests.  This small, tender story reminds us we are just as guilty and helpless.  But helplessness isn’t a curse if it draws us to the only One who can help us.

Are we robbing God by using His gifts selfishly?  Take your example from the repentant thief, and have your sin forgiven by Jesus.  Though guilty of the same sin, we can be in paradise…..not because of us, but only because of Jesus!

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