Today, With Me
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don't you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.””
— Luke 23:39-43 (NIV)
Jesus is dying on a cross, with a criminal on either side of him. One of them mocks him and says that if he is the Messiah, he should save himself and them. The other man tells him off and asks if he has no fear of God. He admits that the two of them deserve their sentence for what they did. He also says that Jesus has done nothing wrong. Then he asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. Jesus answers, "Today you will be with me in paradise." He does not turn away a dying man who has owned up to his guilt and asked to be remembered.
Some people reach out very late, when most of their life is already behind them. Maybe your father was hardly there when you were a kid, and now he is old. One day he texts, "I know I wasn't around. How are you doing?" After all those years, it is easy to send back one word, or nothing. At his age, there may not be another chance. You yourself are counting on Jesus to take you in, as he took in a dying man who owned up to what he had done.
Don't Write Them Off
- 1If someone you had given up on has admitted they let you down and you still have not answered, reply today with one kind sentence and no blame, like "It's good to hear from you." This is not for anyone you need to stay safe from.
- 2If no one like that has reached out, tell someone close who has already apologized but still gets the cold shoulder from you: "I'm glad you said sorry."
Lord Jesus, a dying man owned up to what he had done and asked you to remember him, and you did not turn him away. There is someone I gave up on a long time ago, and I have told myself it is too late. When they owned up to letting me down, I gave them almost nothing back. Help me say something kind to them today. I do not know how they will take it, and I leave that with you. Amen.
Today I will say something kind to someone who owned up to letting me down.
Does the man claim to be innocent?
No. He says the two criminals are getting what their deeds deserve, but that Jesus has done nothing wrong.
What does he ask Jesus for?
To remember him when he comes into his kingdom. Jesus answers, "Today you will be with me in paradise."
Does this challenge apply to someone who is still hurting me?
No. It is for someone who has owned up to letting you down, never for anyone you need to stay safe from.