Firstly, today is good because we know Jesus rose from the dead. Secondly, today is good because we now have the promise of eternal life with Him. Finally, today is good because God came to take away the world’s sins through sacrifice and pain to reconcile us back to Himself. It’s good because we know the rest of the story! Have you heard the rest of the story? Have you responded to it so that you can see today as a good day?
It’s Good Friday! Today I continue in reading through the devotional my brother Peter invited me to join him in reading. So let’s step into day 5 to see what we can learn as we lean into God’s promise of eternal life!
Today’s Devotional:
“Based on the cinematic study The Easter Experience, this devotional will leave you thinking Easter changes everything. Themes include redemption, forgiveness, compassion, and love.”
The plan I am joining my brother Peter in comes to us from City on a Hill and so I would like to thank them for this plan and Peter for the invitation to join him through this via Bible.com. I look to share what I learn and consider how we can apply it to being dads.
The Easter Experience (bible.com)
Today’s Scripture:
‘Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be executed with Him.
Luke 23:32-43
The Crucifixion
When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves. Now the people stood by, watching; but even the rulers ridiculed and sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others [from death]; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God, His Chosen One.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him and [cruelly] offering Him sour wine, and sarcastically saying, “If you are [really] the King of the Jews, save Yourself [from death]!” Now there was also an inscription above Him: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” One of the criminals who had been hanged [on a cross beside Him] kept hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us [from death]!” But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? We are suffering justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, [please] remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” Jesus said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” ‘
‘For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
Romans 6:23
The Rest of the Story makes a difference to how we perceive God’s Word.
Even the title of this blog is based on knowing or having started blogging from the end of the Bible in the book of Revelation. So the beginning was in 2005 and the end will be in Eternity. We’ve all been given free will. So, we all have to make the decision on our own about where we want to spend eternity, what will be our final destination?
Hopefully, many of you will choose early and get to live with and by faith in your relationship with God on this earth. I know others wait till near the end like one of the thieves who was on the cross with Jesus to decide. And yet others, will be like the other thief and not decide before it is too late.
The Rest of the Story:
I Have the Promise of Eternal Life
- Let’s be the dads who have made the decision, knowing the rest of the story so that we can spend eternity with Jesus.
- Today’s devotional gives us the opportunity to decide which thief (as we have all sinned) we relate to more.
- We know that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!
- God’s Word tells us that the wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- So when death comes our way, which thief will represent our lives, the one who receives Jesus or the one who rejects Him?
- Knowing the rest of the story, we know impacts the final destination in eternity!
- Let’s be the dads who have a changed heart thanks to Jesus and start a relationship with Him!
- Let’s decide to not be like the other thief on the cross who “joined the crowds and mocked Jesus. He said, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” I wonder what it was like that day. Were the witnesses of Jesus’ death giving in to peer pressure and mocking because everyone else was doing it? Either way, one thief joined the jeers.“
- Let’s be the dads whose hearts have “experienced the truth of Jesus while he hung on that cross. He was repentant and confessed his sins. Jesus said to him in Luke 23: 43, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”“
- Today’s devotional calls out an interesting point about the story of the cross and the thief who had a change of heart:
- We have the opportunity to know the rest of the story through God’s Word.
- So now we have the opportunity to decide and choose where we will spend eternity.
- Will you decide and receive the promise of eternal life in paradise with Jesus?
- Are you ready to receive and accept “this breathtaking promise through Jesus“?
- Are you ready to give all your hope and trust over to God?
- Today’s devotional closes with the following challenge:
