TODAY’S DEVOTION (WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH 2024)
“One of the criminals hanging there also insulted Jesus by saying,
“Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us!”
But the other criminal told the first one off, “Don’t you fear God? Aren’t you getting the same punishment as this man? We got what was coming to us, but he didn’t do anything wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into power!”
Jesus replied, “I promise that today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43 CEV
WELCOME TO THE 80TH DAY OF OUR YEAR OF IMPACT.
This is a unique season, specifically for every genuinely born-again Child of God, and generally for the lost world at large.
This is the season of the LORD’s Passover. By next week, the entire Church will be remembering the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. That was one event that altered human history forever; spiritual and natural.
It changed the eternal destiny of the human race, and made it possible for souls to die and go to Heaven; something that was impossible before now.
The season will be full of divine activities for everyone in the Spirit to experience. Though there will be so much religious coloration to a solemn season like this, God never intended it to be religious.
God intended it to be a season of spiritual reflection and revelation.
One of the reasons is because, over 2000 years ago, in a season like this, Heaven passed the entire human race over the penalty, practice, and presence of sin, through the dead, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is therefore a great season to use in marking the glorious event. By next week, we will have our resurrection and life conference to commemorate the season. We will be looking at the subject of Immortality; something the Holy Spirit was given to guarantee for us.
From our calendars, it is clear that next friday will mark the day of the Crucifixion; hence it will be good Friday. The Sunday that will follow will mark the day of His resurrection; hence we call it Passover Sunday.
I will admonish everyone to spend more time in the prayer room during the season, and those who are within reach can join us for the conference as we remember what the LORD did to redeem us.
This is not a season to send men to God to talk to Him on your behalf. Those who are lost may do that, but sons and daughters of the King should not. There is time to send men to intercede for you, and there is time to meet God yourself.
THIS IS THE SEASON OF MEETING GOD YOURSELF!
Our devotional text today revealed some truths to us as always.
It gave us a picture of what happened in the Passover week, specifically at the last moments of Jesus in the flesh. It spoke about two thieves and how they both ended their last moments by Jesus’ side.
One of them could not make use of the blessed moments, but the other did. The one who did, got a foretaste of grace before passing on.
One of the major truths to glean from the whole story is in “knowing how not to send men to Jesus when you are in critical positions in life. Knowing how to meet Him yourself even in your pains.”
The thief who got a foretaste of grace and made Heaven did not send anyone to Jesus. Life compelled him to turn to the LORD and talk to Him by himself. And the response He got was amazing.
Jesus replied, “I promise that today you will be with me in paradise.”
Like that thief on the cross, the life of some of us could be hanging on the crosses of the consequences of our bad decisions. We need to meet the LORD by ourselves and obtain help. We need to ask Him to transition us to the place of His will for our lives.
Friend, there are so many blessings we miss for not talking to Jesus ourselves.
Life may have nailed you to one cross or the other, this is time to turn to the LORD and speak to Him yourself. However, you must be guided with more truths on personal prayer, and that is what I want to do now!
If you are ready to make this season a season of prayer, or a season of meeting God yourself to remember you in His mercies, this devotional will be of great benefit to you.
Many of us usually behave like the other thief on the cross who complained and nagged at God, when we attempt to talk to Christ by ourselves. The tones of our prayers are like, “If you are the son of God, deliver me from this or that.”
Do not forget, that the other thief was like, if Jesus was God He should bring them down from the cross of the consequence of their bad decisions, and bring Himself down also.
We literally speak insolent words to God in our prayers and wonder why answers are not coming.
GOD DOES NOT ANSWER INSOLENT WORDS. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. PRAYERS ARE PLEAS, NOT ARROGANCE ON DISPLAY.
Friend, do not speak insolent words you call prayer and expect God to move. The Bible made it clear that He did not even speak a word in response. Heaven was silent at such insolence and wrong prayer from that thief.
Whenever we pray wrongly, Heaven will be silent at our request. God does not answer any prayer full of arrogance, or dishonor for His name, word, ways, will, principles, power, or person. If you will change your life through personal prayers, you must understand prayers God does not answer.
Another prayer God will never answer is a hate driven prayer. God will never answer a prayer you prayed in hate, bitterness, or unforgiveness. He will only answer prayers prayed from a heart with capacity to love even the unlovable, forgive, and walk in mercy.
Do not forget, only the merciful obtain mercy. If you do not have a heart that walks in mercy, just know that God will never answer your payers.
The next prayer God might not answer is a prayer you pray out of panic or fear. God answers prayers of faith. He also answers prayers prayed with revelation knowledge. He answers prayers that proceed from a broken and a contrite spirit.
So, if your prayers will receive answers from GOD, these truths must be known. As we can see in our devotional text, the other thief prayed a simple prayer, but it was void of all we outlined. In fact, it was salted with revelation knowledge of Christ’s coming kingdom and will for His life. The result was amazing.
Jesus, in His excruciating pains, turned to him and said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
The lesson there is, if we pray right, Heaven will turn to us. If we pray right, we will move Heaven to the earth. If we pray right, everything will be alright. If we pray right, God’s kingdom power and glory will be made manifest.
Most times, it is not what we may have done that determines God’s response to us, but the state of our hearts as of the time of our prayers.
A RIGHTEOUS PRAYER FROM A SINFUL SOUL MADE HEAVEN SMILE AT HIM WITH MERCY AND GAVE HIM A PLACE IN ETERNITY.
This thief on the cross, who prayed the right prayers, was the first person to have his name on the Lamb’s book of life.
Is that not amazing that it was a thief that first had his name written on Jesus’ redemption book not a Pharisee? Right prayers from any sinful soul will make Heaven turn to him with grace and mercy, but wrong prayers from any righteous soul will keep Heaven silent at him.
As you face this solemn season of our faith, as the redeemed of the LORD, I admonish again that you make it a season of prayer. If life has nailed you to a cross in any way, this season can bring the change you need.
MAKE THIS SCRIPTURE AN ADDITIONAL MEDITATION FOR THE SEASON.
“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise. For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalms 51:15-17 NKJV