Corona Devo 3124

We have all sinned.  All of us.

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...  ~Romans 3:23

But--do we believe this?  That we have sinned.  That we fall short of His holiness.  That He is perfect and righteous and worthy, and that He is God, and we---are not.  Do we believe this?

Most of us will agree to this--no sweat.  Yes, we've sinned...and God is holy, and He has not sinned.  

But what about when we do sweat?  When the heat (or hurt) of life is on, and the stress and pressure and pain/fear/unknown rise within us and around us.  

When the poop hits the fan--how do we treat God?  When life spirals out of control and we realize that we are not at the helm of our own ship--where does our heart go?  What does our mind think? What do our words say?  

Where is our faith in God?

~~~

Have we had any "bumps" in life's road lately?  Any sickness/death/diagnosis/injustice/pain?  Any hurt in our heart lately?

What is our response to God in response to the struggles of our life?

We've got two options: bitter or better.  Are we bitter toward Jesus or better because of Him? 

As Jesus hung on the cross for the sins of mankind, both responses hung on either side of Him.  Their attitudes in trauma and stress reflect our attitudes in trial and stress.  

Which will it be for us today?  
Bitter or better?

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 

(40) But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? (41) We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

(42) Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  

(43) Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  ~Luke 23:39-43

~~~

Don't tell me that we haven't felt fed-up with God sometimes, just like the bitter criminal hurling insults at Jesus. 

Life can overwhelm us.  

Believers know that our fairytale-ending is written into the pages of our (saved) lives, but we all have one or two (or ten) horror-story life chapters that have been penned-in to our lives also.

  

Life can be very difficult sometimes, and we have to make a choice.  

Do we trust our Lord, even when we cannot see or understand the present (challenging) circumstances?  The first criminal did not.  

His situation had shrunken his faith, and his self-pride and self-pity had ballooned his bitterness.  

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”   ~Luke 23:39

He was bitter, and even while hanging next to the Savior of the world, this criminal missed the truth that life (regardless of our current pressing circumstances) is better with Jesus. 

Which will it be for us today?  
Bitter or better?

Are we bitter toward Jesus or better because of Him? 

~~~

The second criminal was better because of Jesus.  

Even as he hung on a cross and was actively dying...the second criminal understood and acknowledged Christ's purity and power.  

The second criminal knew that he was guilty as charged on that cross, and that he deserved the punishment, but he also knew that Jesus was not guilty, and that Jesus had a kingdom.  

The second criminal's faith in knowing that life (and afterlife) with Jesus is better is exceptional.  And Jesus acknowledges the second criminal's faith, and He rewards it eternally.  

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? (41) We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

(42) Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  

(43) Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  ~Luke 23:40-43

The believing criminal would surely die on the cross next to Jesus, and so would the unbelieving criminal.  Both were in dire circumstances (crucifixion) that would end in death.

But one criminal chose bitter and one chose better.  

How about us today?  

We have all sinned.  All of us.  But sometimes we become comfortable in our faith and comfortable in ourselves.  We forget that we serve a sinless Savior who died for us and deserves our worship, even in our dire circumstances.  

When our faith and dependence on God grows stale or apathetic, then emergencies produce bitterness and pride instead of humility and an attitude of life-is-better with Jesus.  

Things may be very difficult today.  

The second criminal was hanging on a cross being crucified and yet--He paid homage and respect and belief to Jesus Christ, Who he knew could save him.  

I love this (Biblical) example for us.  

Even in our depths, we can pay homage and respect to Jesus and we can believe that He will save us.  Indeed, He already has. 

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  

(43) Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  ~Luke 23:42-43

 Let's not get (or stay) bitter.  Life is better with Jesus.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com