The thief who was crucified next to Jesus:
Remember me when you come into Your kingdom
Jesus’ response: This day you shall be with Me in paradise
He asked Jesus to remember him
Humility
Realization
A very deep cry from his heart
Somehow, he knew who Jesus was
The other guy, his eyes were blinded,
he was a mocker, making fun of Jesus as He was dying on the cross
Not understanding that history was being made,
that bonds of darkness were in the process of being broken
That Jesus was purchasing
the freedom of all who would receive forgiveness and Eternal life,
purchasing them with His blood and the sacrifice of His life
God would have had to open his eyes and He chose not to
He opened the eyes of that thief
God always looks on the heart
He does not see as man sees
He looks for humility and the fear of God
The bible reveals this glimpse
of the two men who were crucified beside our Lord:
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying,
If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
But the other answering rebuked him, saying,
Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:
but this man hath done nothing amiss.
And he said unto Jesus,
Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him,
Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Like 23:39-43
There are no perfect words to pray
God looks on our hearts
He sees our intentions and knows whether or not
we are sincere in our search for Him
If you pay attention to each person He encountered, who reached out to Him, they all were given a different way to get right with Him
with the thief, he had to do no more, no more confessions, he didn’t have to recite anything, what he said was sufficient
Zaccheus had to understand being born again, John 3:1-21
the woman who was being stoned,
was told to go and sin no more John 8:1-11
The rich young ruler refused his directive Matthew 19:16-22
Some of the disciples had to leave all to follow Him John 1:35-51
We each must get with God and find out what He is asking of us,
individually, to be able to walk with Him
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
For it is God which worketh in you
both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13
This reminds me of when Jacob wrestled with the Lord Genesis 32:22-30
We too must wrestle with God
to be able to truly understand the meaning and purpose of our own lives
and what path He has for us
While it’s true there are corporate commands such as:
Love your neighbor as yourself,
it is also true that we are all unique
and have particular missions, if we should choose to accept from God,
that are distinct from anyone else
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
For verily I say unto you,
That many prophets and righteous men
have desired to see those things which ye see,
and have not seen them;
and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Matthew 13:16-17