GOD’S WORD FOR OCTOBER 22

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

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THE THIEF ON THE CROSS

Luke 23:42-43

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.”

The story of the salvation of the dying thief is an example of the power of Christ to save, and of His abundant willingness to receive everyone that comes to Him, in whatever plight they may be.  What do you think must have converted this poor thief?  It strikes me that it may have been – it must have been – the sight of our great Lord and Savior.  When the cross was lifted up, that thief hanging up on his own cross looked around, and I suppose he could see that inscription written in three languages: 

“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  If so, that writing was his little Bible, his New Testament, and he interpreted it by what he knew of the Old Testament.  This dying thief also read the gospel out of the lips of Christ’s enemies.  They said, “He saved others” 

“AH”, thought he, “Did He save others?  Why should He not save me?”  What a great bit of gospel that was for the dying thief?  I think I could swim to heaven on that plank…..  “He saved others” – because if He saved others, He can surely save me. (this possibility shows how, also in our lives, He can use the taunts and hatred of others for someone’s benefit.)

Let’s draw our attention to the sweet fact that the crucified thief was our Lord’s last companion on earth.  What so-called “sorry” company our Lord selected when He was here!  He did not consort with the religious Pharisees or the philosopher Sadducees, but He was known as the “friend of tax collectors and sinners” 

How I  rejoice at this!  It gives me assurance that He will not refuse to associate with me.  When the Lord Jesus made a friend of me, He certainly didn’t make a choice which brought Him credit.

 Do you think He gained any honor when He made a friend of you?

Has He ever gained anything by us? 

No, my friends.  If Jesus had not stooped very low, He would not have come to me.  If He did not seek the most unworthy, He might not have come to you.  You feel it so, and you are thankful that He came “not to call the righteous, but sinners” to repentance.  (Matthew 9:13).

I want you to notice that the last companion of Christ on earth was a sinner – and no ordinary sinner.  He had broken even the laws of man, for he was a rover.  He was most likely the type of criminal that mixed murder with their robberies.  He was probably a pirate in arms against the Roman government, making this a pretext for plundering as he had opportunity.  At last he was arrested and condemned by a Roman tribunal, which, on the whole, was usually just, and in this case was certainly just, for he himself confessed the justice of his condemnation.  How striking that a convicted felon was the person with whom our Lord last spent time upon earth.  What a lover of the souls of guilty men is He!

What a stoop He makes to the very lowest of mankind!  To this most unworthy of men, the Lord of glory spoke with matchless grace.  He spoke to Him such wondrous words as never can be excelled if you search the Scriptures through:  “today you will be with me in paradise.”

Our Savior took this dying thief into the paradise of infinite delight, and this is where He will take all of us sinners who repent and believe in Him as our Savior and Lord.   If we are trusting Him, we shall ultimately be with Him in paradise. 

In addition, the Lord put a time on the thief’s ticket:  “today.”  The thief was near the gates of hell, but almighty mercy lifted him up.  What a change from the cross to the crown – from the anguish of Calvary to the glory of the New Jerusalem!

In those few hours, the thief was lifted from the pit and set among princes.  Can you measure the change from that sinner, revolting in his iniquity when the sun was high at noon, to that same sinner – clothed in pure white and accepted in heaven –in the paradise of God when the sun went down? 

O glorious Savior, what marvels You can work!

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Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Matthew 9:11

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew 9:13

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Matthew 26:28

For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Galatians 1:4

who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Galatians 3:22

But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

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