Luke 23: 42 “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’
Dear God,
It is wonderful to be part of this new day, and to have life and the ability to enjoy life, by Your care and blessing. I am thankful for the assurance that You will never leave us despite how dire our circumstances look and the answers from You at that time of need, do not seem to be coming.
I have been stirred whilst reading about some people, who were/are Your true and faithful servants occupied doing Your work, and often in poverty and difficult circumstances; necessitating them to even go from their families and young children for a time. These wonderful people pressed on through hardship and severe health crisis for themselves and their children; with some sacrificing their lives. All these sacrifices and application of effort was so they could establish Your church; rebuke fanaticism and hypocrisy, as well as encourage those taking baby steps of faith in the new found love of Jesus and belief that He was/is truly coming again.
Never wavering these pioneer believers and missionaries called upon You for rescue from the attacks of Satan (who does not want anyone to love and serve Jesus). You heard their prayers, and they were given sufficient strength and means to continue. Abilities and means often grew as they went on with their mission, secure that they were ever in Your love and care. In so doing they experienced the peace that Jesus has promised to all who love and rely on Him.
Whilst on earth in human form, Jesus gave His whole heart to You, His beloved Father, and allowed the irreverent happenings that bought Him to Calvary‘s cross. It seems that few appreciated what was really happening on the cross, to the Son of God. Even during His blameless, merciful, life filled with compassion and miraculous healings of the sick, few appreciated Him for Himself. Mostly their interest in Jesus was because of what they expected that they would receive when (as they expected) He set up a kingdom as king of Judah.
In each of us sinful humans, surely the spirit would be ever crushed if we had been in the place of Jesus, for none of us has yet demonstrated that we totally depend upon You, as He did. Despite the two thieves and Jesus being each on their individual cross together, which led to the same ending in death for each, one thief believed and expected that Jesus would still come into His heavenly Kingdom, and wanted to be a part of it. His faith during these most trying circumstances was above most of those who proclaimed they were God’s children. Jesus though fainting and weak, did not neglect to answer, in the affirmative, that he would be in Paradise with Him.
I pray dear Jesus, that as I ask You to have my heart again today, that I will allow You to grow and strengthen my heart, so that no matter the circumstances, I will be true to You.
Amen