Faith of a Criminal
Who is Jesus to you?
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
This is a very familiar passage of scripture, but take a minute to consider the faith of the second criminal. He feared God. The other criminal mocked Jesus, but this man knew he deserved the death sentence. He believed Jesus lived a sinless life. The criminal knew Jesus had done nothing wrong.
He believed Jesus was God’s Anointed One. He understood that one day God would send the Messiah to save His people. While others doubted, this man recognized the truth in his dying moments. He believed Jesus had the power to save him. Even though Jesus hung dying on the cross next to him, this criminal asked Jesus to remember him. Death could not prevent Jesus from receiving the kingdom God established for Him.
What about us?
Each of us deserves death because of our deeds. We cannot show contempt for God and escape His justice. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7)
Jesus, the sinless Son of God, has the power to save us. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) No situation, no sin, no shame is too great for His power.
Gracious Heavenly Father, give me faith like the criminal who died next to Jesus. I believe You have the power to save me. Amen
Questions: What do you learn about faith from the criminal? Where in your life do you need to experience the power of God?
5 Responses to “Faith of a Criminal”
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What Do You Fear?
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I know that I am a child of God, yet the thief on the cross acknowledged the power of God more than I. As Mother’s Day approaches, I always take on the failures of my children – and my failure as their mother, most of all. No matter how many times I ask for God’s forgiveness, I take it back every year. I need to experience healing and forgiveness – once and for all. And not take it back!
Faith. I feel sometimes I fail because I loose focus on faith. I need to realize god is great and he has full controll of our lives. The evil can not hurt me, because I know I’m a gods child in which I am so thankful for. Thank you for having me know my fear and know that I have to keep going. Thanks for your services
I fell my faith fall at work.The employee’s around me.Some of them.Sometimes I fell like two year olds are the adult and not whom in which I work with.I fell like they think they are god.I pray asking God to help me in this area
This worldly life makes everyone guilty and peaceless every now & then.
We need to focus on Jesus Christ to set us free & qualify us for the true happy RESURRECTED life in HIS KINGDOM.
Accepting our guilt and ABSOLUTELY BELIEVING JESUS CHRIST’S SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS WILL GET US THE NESSARY GRACE for our life here.
dear betty– i feel for you i fail and take to God then take it back too for me when i do pray i get a picture and give it to God and this picture is God throwing a knap sack of my failings in the ocean so i can’t take it back its deep in the ocaean also in the bible it says as far as the east is from the west so far have i removed your sins from you he died once and for all ONCE. also even though your sins are like scarlet they are as white as snow, i know its tough to do, God loves you God i pray for a healing for betty help her to see that you have forgiven her and you love her i pray all of this in JESUS name amen