Luke 23 - 9.23.25

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 23:39 – 43

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

OBSERVATION

In this section of Scripture, we read about Jesus’ crucifiction. He is on the cross between two criminals. We don’t know the criminals exact crimes but it must have been severe to warrant a crucifiction. The word “criminals” in Greek (lēstēs) means a robber, bandit; rebel, revolutionary.

As one insults Jesus, the other criminal recognizes Jesus as the Messiah and comes to His defense. He doesn’t just acknowledge Jesus as King, but recognizes something even the disciples had trouble understanding – that Jesus would be King in heaven and not on earth. The disciples and religious rulers all thought that Jesus was talking about being King on earth. They couldn’t see or understand his ruling was in heaven and not on this earth.

I love how the criminal flat out tells the other criminal, “Don’t you fear God?” He’s basically chastising him!  They know their death is imminent. The one criminal is not realizing or taking his death very serious. The other, knowing who Jesus is, asks that He “remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus acknowledges his faith, his belief in God, by telling him “today you will be with me in paradise.”

This portion of scripture fascinates me. The one criminal is oblivious to what’s coming after he dies, yet the other one acknowledges Jesus as God. He has faith in Jesus! He knows Jesus will be King in His “Kingdom.”  Then Jesus readily accepts him into heaven. God’s love transends all situations making salvation available to the criminial in his last moments on earth.

APPLICATION

We are all sinners but these criminals had done some terrible things – bad enough to be crucified -  yet Jesus was willing to accept the one criminal because of his faith. This criminal, who is about to die, acknowledges his sin (his crimes), yet because of his faith in Jesus, he was received into heaven. What a wonderful example of God’s perfect love in the most unusual situation.

This scripture is a beacon of hope for any loved one that might have had the chance to declare their faith before passing. We can have hope for now but honestly won’t know until we’re in heaven if they made that last minute confession of faith and asked Christ into their life. Our hope is based on what Jesus did for the criminal on the cross.

Romans 10:9 says “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The criminal didn’t have the opportunity to witness Jesus coming back from the dead, but he did declared Jesus as Lord, believed in Him, and that’s what saved him.

This is not to say we can just party up our life and squeeze in a quick confession before we take our last breath thinking that will work. God knows our heart. His amazing grace doesn’t work that way either. Paul wrote about God’s grace and the subject of Christians who continue to live their life in sin in Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” So if your plan is to try and test God’s grace and forgiveness, I highly doubt it will work. Plus, why chance your eternity in that last moment? You never know if you’ll even have that last moment chance. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. If you have any doubts about where you stand before God, make your confession of faith today. Confess your sins and need for God’s salvation, believe in the salvation message, and give your life over to God. Then live a life that is pleasing to Him!

“For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation”  2 Corinthians 6:2

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for sacrificing your life on the cross and providing salvation to those who believe. Help me Lord to never forget your precious sacrifice on the cross. Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Your love goes deep and beyond what I could ever fathom. Help me to remember that your rule, your Kingdom, is not on this earth but in heaven. You will rule there for eternity with all those who believe. I take comfort in knowing that you receive into heaven any and all, at any point in their life, who have committed any crime or sin, as long as they believe, confess, and repent. Your saving grace and love for us is beyond comprehension. Thank you for it all. In Jesus name, Amen!

- Mary Oberg

Luke 22 - 9.19.25

Scripture

Luke 22:52- But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Observation

Jesus’ followers knew what was about to happen after Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.  So, one of them cut off the right ear of the servant of the high priest.  Jesus did not approve of this. As a result, he healed the man’s ear.

Application

Be angry, but do not sin. (Ephesians 4:26)

There is so much to be angry about in this world when we look at all the sin and evil happening around us. I know for myself personally, I have had to take myself off of social media for a bit because of certain posts that I am tempted to fight against.

However, the Lord doesn’t want us to fight evil with evil. In fact, He tells us to fight and OVERCOME evil with good (Romans 12:21).

He also says that human anger doesn’t produce with righteousness that God desires (James 1:20) and that self-control is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Instead of fighting those who seem to be for evil, our hearts need to break for them. I know that mine does, especially those who do not yet have a relationship with Christ.

Relationships can only be healthy and healed through the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. His humility and willingness to die for us should cause us to want to die to ourselves in order to build bridges with the lost and depraved of mind.

A Pastor said that the world watches how we suffer, so we need to suffer well.

Who is God calling you (and me) to pray for to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?

Prayer

Dear Lord,

You know how hard it has been for me to see all of the hate circulating on social media the past couple of weeks, especially when it has been directed towards a fellow brother in Christ. Even though I didn’t know Charlie personally, such a gruesome murder is something I wouldn’t even wish upon my worse enemy, much less a fellow believer. I don’t understand Lord. Please fill me with Your peace and wisdom to respond the way You would want me to respond. Help my heart to break for people who do not yet know You, instead of immediately wanting to answer back in anger and frustration. Please forgive me for the many times my heart has leaned in that direction. I know if you were here on earth today, You would say, “No more of this!” just like You said on the day You were going to be crucified. Not only did You NOT hate your enemies, but You chose to heal them. Help me Holy Spirit to remember that I was once Your enemy too, until Your grace and mercy entered my life. We all need You Jesus. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Luke 19 - 9.19.25

Scripture:  Luke 19:1-10

19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Observation:

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but he received so much more.  He was already hated by the people as a chief tax collector.  They were not going to let him have a spot where he could see Jesus and he was too short to see over them.  He did a bold thing, he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree.  He was rich, so he must have been wearing nice clothes.  Scripture does not say whether or not he removed any garments to make the run or climb easier.  I’m guessing because this was an impulse, he ran and climbed as is.

Jesus knows when we are seeking Him.  Jesus got to where Zacchaeus was in the tree and looked up and told him to come down.  The reason, ‘I must stay at your house today.”   Zacchaeus immediately came down and welcomed him .  I’m wondering was his house nearby or did the muttering happen before they reached his house and overheard?  It says all the people, not just the religious leaders muttered, “He has gone to be he guest of a sinner.”  It seems Zacchaeus standing up and declaring he will give half of his possessions to the poor and pay back those cheated four times the amount was a response to their muttering. It is evident that Zacchaeus was truly transformed by his encounter with Jesus.  What he did of his own accord something very similar to what Jesus had asked the rich young ruler to do in the previous chapter.

Jesus spoke directly to Zacchaeus that salvation had come to the house because he was a “son of Abraham,” not because of his deeds.  Jesus declares His mission is to seek and save the lost.

Application:

Zacchaeus did not let a huge barrier stop him from his goal of seeing Jesus.  I want to be like him and not let perceived roadblocks or limitations stop me.  His transformation caused him to give generously of what he had to the poor and those he had cheated.  When I encounter Jesus there should be a response to give of what I’ve been blessed with. It may not be money.  It could be time, a talent or something else.

I also want to join with Jesus to seek and share so He can save those who are lost.

Prayer:

Father God,

You see those who are striving to seek you and you love them.  Thank you for rewarding our efforts to come into your presence.  May I not take time spent with you lightly.  Each day I have opportunity to know you and your heart.  Help me to grow more and more like you in all I do.  Keep my eyes open for those seeking you so I can be your hands and feet.

Amen

- Cindy Howard