The unsaved

Luke 23:39-43 tells us about one of the criminals that was crucified with Christ. "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: 'Aren't you the Christ? 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, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'

For the past couple weeks, I've been thinking a lot about this guy crucified with Christ. There are a couple key things in these few verses:

1. He knew and admitted he was a sinner - "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve."
2. He believed that Jesus is who He said He was - "remember me when you come into your kingdom"
3. He served the Lord with his few remaining minutes - "But the other criminal rebuked him"
4. From 1 through 3 above, it seems that this criminal may be the first person saved by grace under the new covenant.
5. He was physically right next to Jesus as he spoke with our Lord. As such, he modeled the kind of prayers we are to have - conversational, earnest, expectant, and with the realization that Christ listens to and answers prayers since He is right next to us.
6. In Jesus' reply to this man, there is a subtle prophecy. He says "today you will be with me in paradise". It often took several days for crucifixion to kill a person. Yet Jesus knows that all 3 of them will die this very day (see John 19:31-32).

So, what are we praying about this Wednesday? We are praying for all the unsaved. We are praying that they follow the model of this man. That they come to realize they are a sinner who cannot save themselves. That they come to know Jesus as there Lord and savior. And that they walk with Him the rest of there lives.

As we pray, let's keep this man's example in mind and converse with our Lord like He is right next to us.

Have a great week and a great fast.
Your brother,
Bob