Daily Scripture - Apr 06

Scriptures:
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 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 23:39-43)

Message:
Have you ever realized that all of us once despised and rejected Jesus, not knowing Him, and were even enemies of Him (Col 1:21), just like the first robber in this passage? We are all destined to be perishing sinners. However, the second robber confessed that he was a sinner and believed that Jesus was the holy lamb of God, acknowledging Jesus as his savior. As a dying criminal who sinned his whole life, it must be his ultimate joy and hope to hear Jesus say “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise”. At the same time, the repentance of this robber was also a great comfort to Jesus, as He got to see the fruit of His labor.

The same sacrificial love on the cross is still there for everyone of us today. It’s never too late to accept Jesus as our savior no matter how broken, filthy, or sinful we are. Any time we can make a U-turn to our Heavenly Father, who always welcomes us home with open arms.

Meditation:
Think of how Jesus restored and encouraged us when we were in our spiritual valley, and offer thanksgiving and praises to Him for that. Search your heart to see if there is still any sin that makes your fear or keeps you from the joy of your perfect salvation. Commit yourself completely to the Lord through prayers and repentance.

What we can do:
Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal and cleanse all our presumptuous and secret sins (disobedience, pride, addiction, enslavement to Satan, and the lust of the flesh). Embrace the peace of salvation through prayers.
Tell at least one seeker that Jesus loves him/her and share with him/her your testimony.

Song: H164 Just As I Am/I Come Broken

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經文：
“39 那同釘的兩個犯人，有一個譏誚祂說：「你不是基督嗎？可以救自己和我們吧！」 40 那一個就應聲責備他說：「你既是一樣受刑的，還不怕 神嗎？ 41 我們是應該的，因我們所受的與我們所做的相稱，但這個人沒有做過一件不好的事。」 42 就說：「耶穌啊，你得國降臨的時候，求你記念我！」 43 耶穌對他說：「我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裡了！」(路23:39-43)

信息分享：
我們可曾想過？第一個强盜的情形正是你我原本的情形。不單不認識耶穌，而且是輕視祂、抵擋祂，與祂爲仇爲敵的人（西1：21）。這個强盜滅亡的結局也理應是我們每個人的結局。但第二個强盜卻承認自己是一個罪人，同時相信耶穌是無罪、神的羔羊，願意接受耶穌成爲他的救主。所以當耶穌對他說：“我實在告訴你，今日你要同我在樂園裡了“，作爲一個一生犯罪，瀕臨死亡的强盜，這話勢必成爲他臨終前最大的喜樂，也帶給他永恒的盼望。同時，這一個罪人的悔改，也帶給耶穌基督何等大的安慰，因為這是祂斷氣之前看見祂勞苦功效所結的果子。

今天這十字架犧牲的大愛也一樣臨到了我們每一個人。無論我們之前有多少的失敗、污穢與罪惡, 相信耶穌，接受祂作爲我們個人的救主，永遠都不會太遲。任何時候我們回轉，天父都要張開雙臂歡迎我們回家。

默思：
回想曾經我們在最低谷的時候，耶穌祂如何的恢復我們，激勵我們。讓我們一同獻上感恩和讚美。我們身上是否還有任何的罪使我們常常處在恐懼的裏面，使我們失去得救的喜樂？請藉著禱告、認罪，完全的把自己交托給主。

我們能做什麼：
求聖靈光照並顯明我們心中一切任意妄爲和隱而未顯的罪（不順服，驕傲，癮，撒旦的權勢和肉體的權勢）。藉著禱告，得着赦罪的平安。
在受難週裡，對一個福音朋友訴説耶穌愛我，拯救我的見證。

詩歌：H164 照我本相