Monday Motivation: Paradise Found

Friends

Holy Week is upon us! The parade of Palm Sunday has passed. Now our gaze shifts to the cross. Upon that hill so long ago and so far away, Jesus paid the ultimate price, and because of His sacrifice, you and I have the promise of paradise. To Jesus, we sing, “Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of The Lord!”

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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

Paradise Found

One Friday,

One hilltop.

Three crosses,

Three men.

Two criminals,

One innocent.

Two sinners,

One Savior.

Purple robe,

Crown of thorns.

The sign read

“King of the Jews.”

The crowd jeered,

The soldiers sneered,

The women shed bitter tears.

Two criminals,

Both mired in sin.

One hurled insults.

One closed his mind.

The other

Had eyes to see,

Ears to hear,

An open heart.

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

And Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today, you will be with me in paradise.”

The sky grew dark.

The earth trembled,

And it all came down

To a choice.

The choice to believe.

Believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Receive His gift of salvation.

Receive His promise of eternal life.

Centuries later,

The choice remains.

Trust and believe,

Repent and receive.

The question is

Will we have

Eyes to see?

Ears to hear?

An open heart?

Let it be so.

For then,

When that day comes

For you and for me,

We will hear our Lord say,

“Today, you will be with me in paradise.”

-APS 3/31/20

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But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 – NIV

PRAYER

O Lord Jesus, You are our Savior, our Redeemer, the Christ. You endured the horror of our sin and shame to set us free once and for all. You took the punishment so we wouldn’t have to. You made a way through the wasteland of our iniquity. You wiped the slate clean with Your tears and Your blood. With nail-pierced hands, You opened the gates of heaven. Paradise is no longer lost to us, for Paradise is found in You. All hail the power of Jesus’ Name, now and forevermore!

In the Holy Name of Jesus, we give thanks and praise,

Amen

Easter Blessings,

Anita

-APS 3/29/21