A GOD OF CHANCES
Read Luke 23:26-56
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.”
Luke 23:42-43 (NKJV)
Have you ever had a bad habit you wanted to break? How often did you find yourself doing that thing you no longer wanted to do? Our struggle with the flesh, sin, is similar. Paul speaks of his battle with sin and the desire to do good. He wrote, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find” (Romans 7:18). One can only presume that the thief on the cross spent his life wrestling with the desires of the flesh as he made his appeal to Christ with a contrite heart.
Just moments away from death, Jesus pardons him and provides him with the assurance of salvation. When we struggle with temptation and sin, it is “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). We don’t have to wait to “make it right” or “get out of the mess” before we come to Christ. Just look at the thief on the cross. He couldn’t change or improve his situation, but he acknowledged that Christ could do what he could not do for himself.
“Satan is ready to steal away the blessed assurance of God. He desires to take every glimmer of hope and every ray of light from the soul; but you must not permit him to do this. Do not give ear to the tempter, but say, ‘Jesus has died that I might live.'” (E. G. White, Steps to Christ, 53.2). Jesus’ declaration is still valid for us today if we, like the thief on the cross, come with contrite hearts. He will forgive and accept us. He will set us back on the path of salvation. He has done everything and will do it for us if we surrender to Him.
Prayer Focus: Abiding In Christ.
Prayer: Dear Father, you gave Your Son to die for our sins. With this, we stand a chance of receiving forgiveness. Please help us to live in this new privilege. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thought for Today: Live Gracefully In Life’s Second Chances.
Contributor: Ms. Nichole Shaw (Florida, United States)
Screen Editor: Mr. Wensley Dias
Editor: Mr. Eliezer D. Rodriguez