October 2022
Nougat 12
When inclined to minimize our worth in God’s sight, today’s Holy Nougat
“But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”” Luke 23:40, 42 NLT
Even a death row inmate!
We don’t know much about him. Except he was one of the two ‘criminals’ who were crucified alongside Jesus. He was the ‘good one’. The text says they were condemned (hardened) criminals. But in the midst of all his wrongdoing, he was able to recognize Who Jesus was. And his heart cried out.
The man was not trying to butter Jesus up. That was his fellow inmate’s idea – shame Jesus into a last minute jailbreak. I agree, they weren’t in jail per se, but there was no escaping death. That man, contrary to some opinions, was desperate. He wanted to escape crucifixion (don’t we all?). He figured Jesus could make it happen, so he reached out to Him. The issue is how he went about it.
On the contrary, our God-chaser was looking beyond the confines of Golgotha. His desire was for an eternal jailbreak. So, he appealed to the very same person his counterpart did. But his attitude was deferential. He knew Jesus’ identity. He ‘got’ that Jesus was falsely accused. Most of all, he knew it wasn’t too late to make an appeal!
This was the cry that can only be made by the one in need. No one else could make that request for him. We cannot make it on someone’s behalf. It’s the seeking that comes from a desperate heart.
If Jesus heard that cry, I know He hears us too.
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May all we seek be found in Christ