January 5, 2015
“He trusts in God.”
Matthew 27:43
He hung from the cross between the two robbers afflicted
with the same grueling death. He was without sin, yet hung there in the midst
of sin, His claim, “I am the Son of God.”
“Let God rescue him now if he wants him,” they mocked. They
are the ones who should have known him for who He is, for the chief priests,
teachers of the law, and elders were educated with the knowledge of the coming
Messiah, yet they were blind to the Light he brought to penetrate the darkness
of souls. They shut out the Light, closed the door to their hearts and
remained steeped in their rigid ways of law and tradition, for they would have
lost their self-ruled power and hierarchical status amongst the Jews, God’s
chosen people.
What these intellects did not realize is that those who
believe Jesus is the Son of God are children of God and rightful heirs of
sonship in the family of Christ.
“Yet to all who received, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural
descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” ~John
1:12-13 NIV
When we picture that day at Calvary, the day that tore the
veil of God and gave us rightful relationship with Him through His only
begotten Son, Jesus, the three crosses - Jesus nailed on the center arms of
crucifixion, two criminals, one on his right, the other on his left - we witness
two choices: fear God or mock Him.
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.” ~Luke 23:39-43 NIV
One became a son of God, receiving God’s grace, while the
other remained a son of wrath, receiving his just punishment.
What then, is your choice?
Therefore
brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful
nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful
nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the
body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of
God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but
you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we
are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God
and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we
may also share in his glory. ~Romans 8:12-17 NIV
This life choice is yours.
I trust in God.
Praise God for the words and visions he gives me, stellar
rhema of which I scribe. ~Jeff Cambridge © 2015
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