The Faith of One of the Thieves

The Faith of One of the Thieves

Hebrews chapter eleven is often described as the chapter listing the “Heroes of Faith.” It truly deserves this title and just to think of the lives of those who are listed there builds our faith. However, there may be some whose faith has been overlooked and whose lives we should also consider.  One of these is a man who made such tragic mistakes in his life and both Jews and Romans thought he should be punished in the gruesome torture of crucifixion. Let’s take time to consider the faith of one of the thieves crucified with Jesus (Luke 23:32-43).thieves

It is remarkable how much he knew about Jesus even though so few verses are devoted to him.

  • He knew the innocence and purity of Jesus. While at first he was part of the mocking of Jesus, he rebuked the blasphemy of the other thief.
  • He knew the importance of fearing God and his words seem to indicate he was aware of the deity of Jesus. “Do you not fear God?” To disrespect this man is to show an absence of the fear of God.
  • He knew that Jesus was Lord. He began the sentence we know so well about remember me by calling Jesus “Lord.” He understood the authority Jesus had over death.
  • He knew about the fact that Jesus had come to establish His kingdom. How he learned of the kingdom is not told and if he had seen any miracles of Jesus is not specified. He knew that the kingdom was about to be established.
  • He knew about the grace of Jesus. It is strange that a man whose life had brought about his crucifixion did not say, “Lord, forget me when You come in your kingdom.”
  • He knew that Jesus’ death would not keep the kingdom of God  from being established by Jesus. The apostles saw the death of Jesus at the end. Those two men on the road to Emmaus showed they thought it had ended.  “We had hoped He….”
  • He had some realization of some form of the resurrection of Jesus. The cross was not the end. There was more! The apostles did not believe the words of women who told them of His resurrection. Yet this man, in the face of His death, knew that in some way both he and Jesus would meet again.

God does not just honor the “Heroes of Faith.” Emmanuel honored the great faith of a sinful man who trusted Jesus to always do what was right.

As we think about those “heroes of faith,” let us never overlook how Jesus honors those with the faith the size of a mustard seed.

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Understanding

Understanding

“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!”(Proverbs 16:16 KJV)understanding

Solomon was born into wealth. He was the son of King David. David as king had grown very wealthy. Revenue was coming into his coffers regularly. When David died and appointed Solomon to reign in his stead, with that reign came David’s wealth.

So, when Solomon was given the choice by God to ask for anything he humbly recognized his youth and experience and asked God to grant him the wisdom and understanding to rule the nation. This shows us the heart of young Solomon – he wanted to rule, not for what he could gain from that rule – but because he wanted to lead the nation as a wise and benevolent ruler. God was pleased with his request and gave him a wise and understanding heart so that he could rule, but also gave him wealth and honors to the degree that he was the wealthiest and most honorable or well-known king of his time. He became the wealthiest man who ever lived. God was pleased with his early life and early devotion to him. Later, that would not be the case, as Solomon in his old age was turned away from God by the ungodly influence of his wives. (If only he had heeded the Proverb later in this very chapter, “The hoary head is a crown of glory, IF it be found in the way of righteousness.”)

But early in his reign Solomon used his great wisdom to increase the Kingdom, not through warfare, but through diplomacy and economics. As a result, he became fabulously wealthy and world renowned in as much as other monarchs traveled great distances to see his Kingdom for themselves and to seek his wisdom.

Solomon recognizes the superiority of wisdom and understanding over silver and gold because wealth can be lost, stolen, or otherwise degraded and often beyond our control. But with wisdom and understanding if one is careful and diligent in growing their intellect through study and meditation, that wisdom and understanding can never be lost or stolen. One who has wisdom and understanding of God’s word and will and who lives by those things may lose all their worldly possessions but still be better off than the unrighteous person who possesses much silver and gold. Seek God’s wisdom and understanding. Apply yourself to obeying God and His Word. Seek those things which are above and lay up for yourself treasures in heaven. You may not become rich or famous or gain worldly honors, but you will have a greater blessing for eternity in heaven, which would beggar the worldly riches of the richest man who ever lived.

Read 1 Kings 3:5-14, Psalms 37:25; Matthew 6:19-21; Colossians 3:1-3; James 2:5

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An Abomination to the Lord

An Abomination to the Lord

There is a paragraph in Proverbs which every person should know. Listen to God as He tries to get our attention and says, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him” (Prov. 6:16). We must never overlook what follows these words, for we must flee from all that God finds detestable. When we stand before God, we must not stand with anything that is an abomination to Him.

#1.  God hates “a proud look.” It may not be by accident that this is listed first. It is the opposite of humility which is found in the heart of the one who humbles himself before God. Humility leads one to God, but pride does just the opposite.

#2.  God hates “a lying tongue.” Our God cannot lie, and He by His holy nature wants us to always speak the truth. This must be very important for it is listed in another form in the sixth attitude God hates.

#3.  God hates “hands that shed innocent blood.” Our nation is shocked by the brutal killing of children in Ukraine, yet legally permits the slaughter of children in the womb. God abhors both of these.

            #4.  God hates “a heart that devises wicked plans.” There are sins which come into our lives because of weakness which suddenly comes into our lives. There are sins which men lie awake at night and scheme how to do evil. God makes a difference between these. The difference is mercy and justice.

            #5.  God hates “feet that are swift in running to evil.” Those who plan evil do far more than make plans. They can hardly wait to carry them out. And they run to do evil!

            #6. God hates “a false witness who speaks lies.” This obviously involves lying which has already been mentioned, but in our day, think of how it applies to false teachers who claim they speak for God but lie.

            #7.  God hates “one who sows discord among brethren.” Our God is one (Deut. 6:4) and longs for His people to be one. However, think of how serious it is when one stirs up trouble in a local congregation and creates a situation where the faith of so many is weakened. There were those individuals in Corinth who sowed discord over teachers like Paul, Apollos and Cephas. He refers to the church as God’s temple and says, “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him” (1 Cor. 3:17). Religious folks can create such havoc!

Think about this list and imagine standing before His judgment throne having paid no attention to this list. We need to know the list, but we must do all we can to destroy sinful actions from our lives. He is holy. God help us to be like Him.

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Cussing in Front of the Preacher

“Cussing in Front of the Preacher”

On more than one occasion, I have heard someone say, “Don’t cuss in front of the preacher,” or similar. Let me go on record as saying that I don’t like to hear anyone cussing, but I hear plenty anyway. I hear it in media, shopping, at restaurants, at football games, and just about every other place not associated with the church. However, I want to emphasize, that it does not matter what I think on this topic or whether someone personally offends me or not. It is not the preacher that a person needs to worry about cussing in front of—it’s God Almighty! And He hears it all!cussing face

Maybe someone might be thinking that God doesn’t mind listening to my cussing. Well, just listen to the word of God on this topic. In the book of James (3:8-10) we read: “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” The truth is that “cussing” is just “cursing,” and the Holy Spirit says, “these things ought not to be so.” God doesn’t want you to be cussing whether it is in front of the preacher or anyone else!

The words of the Christian are supposed to be graceful. Listen to Ephesians 4:19: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Does cussing edify? Is cussing gracious? We all know it isn’t. Just stop doing it (period).

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Receive with Meekness

Receive with Meekness

James describes the kind of heart we need in order to profit from studying the Bible. Read His words carefully. “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jas. 1:21-22).

Every time we read the Bible, listen to Bible teaching or are studying the word, we must receive it with meekness. Sometimes there are individuals who have great knowledge about the Bible and can readily quote it, but it does not seem to change them. Why? Because they do not receive it with humility. Knowledge of the Bible involves the “head,” but meekness involves the “heart.” When Samuel heard the message of God in the middle of the night, he said, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.”

There is more than meekness involved in Bible study which will change our souls. James uses the expression, “the implanted word.” Jesus’ parable about the sower described what happened to the seed which fell on good soil. Unlike the seed which fell on stony ground which began but “had no root” (Luke 8:13), the roots of the seed on the good soil had depth and produced much fruit. James is not talking about just hearing the words but adds the word “implanted,” showing that the “seed” is far more than knowing the Bible. This seed sinks deep into our hearts. This is why the KJV translates this as “the engrafted word.” Bible study in this passage describes four actions: (1) the hearing of the word; (2) an openness to receive the word; (3) a heart which humbly listens to God—he is humble enough to accept the truth, even when it hurts and condemns; and (4) letting the words sink deeply into us.

Look again at this paragraph in James. It begins with the word “therefore.” This indicates that divine truths had just been uttered and based upon that truth a heavenly conclusion is stated. What had James just said?

James had described a man who so readily charged God with tempting him. James showed this violated the nature of God. Look at verse 19. “So then my brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Is it possible that these words which can apply to dealings with others have a primary application to not hastily charge God, but to be swift to hear God, slow to speak before Him and become angry at what He says?

The next time you study the Bible, do not begin your study with a preconceived conclusion you want to use the Bible to prove what you believe. Remember that Solomon said that when we come before Him, “let your words be few” (Ecc. 5:2). Always be swift to hear God.  Think about it.

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