DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 20 September 2022 — The thief escapes hell
DCLM Higher Everyday 20 September 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi —The thief escapes hell
TOPIC: THE THIEF ESCAPES HELL
TEXT: LUKE 23:39-43
40But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
MEMORY VERSE: “And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (LUKE 23:41, 42).
MESSAGE:
D. L. Moody says, “The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot towards his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise.” The thief described here was one of the two crucified alongside the righteous Jesus at Calvary.
Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 19 September 2022 — Primacy of pure religion
Hanging right there, the stubborn thief hurled insults at Jesus, challenging Him to save Himself and the two of them, if He was truly the Christ. But his fellow thief rebuked him for not fearing God. He said they were reaping the fruit of their evil deeds, while Christ was being punished unjustly. Now a repented man, he recognised Jesus as the Messiah and asked Him to remember him in His kingdom. Therefore, he escaped hell when Christ told him, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Repent today and escape hell.
QUOTE: He escaped hell.
CHALLENGE: Sinners reap the fruit of their evil deeds.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to repent and escape hell.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
