September 14, 2017,
“Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom. He said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will be with me in paradise.”Luke 23:42-43 The Message
He will never cease to amaze you. When you think you are on your last gasp of life, Jesus says: “Don’t worry, I will” (remember you). A man with nothing received everything because he believed that Jesus would make the difference. You may have blown it, really blown it, and you wonder if Jesus would truly welcome you back? You were once “that thief”. Yes, He still welcomes back any man or woman who asks Him such a scandalous question. He’ll walk a beach .. meet over coffee .. look you straight in the eye and deeply in your heart and reaffirm His love to you. He’s the finished look of your life. The cross means no one is outside of His reach. The scars in His hands show He knows every wound or hurt you’ve ever experienced. And for this to happen .. Jesus still comes after those who wander and those who are caught and condemned. There’s no way back if Jesus doesn’t restore fallen and faraway lives. He’ll use the very circumstances you are facing to strip away all the pretense and good intentions. He sees through the excuses and reasons you’re in a bad place. He has heard every intention of serving Him if only “this” crisis will pass. He’ll ask the one question that will strip away all pretense and leave you with only one answer: “Lord, you know everything, you know in spite of my circumstances, that I love you.” That rings hollow in this world but grabs the attention of the Crucified One. He’s serious about restoring broken and battered lives. You’re the proof. If you’re serious, He’ll use you to remind someone that Jesus will remember them too! … It only takes a moment ….
“then he said a third time? “Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was upset that He asked for the third time: “Do you love me?” so he answered , “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to Remembered and Restored followers of Jesus (kchesterp1@gmail.com)
