“ONE OF THE CRIMINALS!”

 

Luke 23:39-43                   (ESV)

“[39] “ONE OF THE CRIMINALS” who were hanged railed at HIM, saying, “Are you not the CHRIST? Save YOURSELF and us!” [40] But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear GOD, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this MAN has done nothing wrong.” [42] And he said, “JESUS, remember me when YOU come into YOUR kingdom.” [43] And HE said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with ME in paradise.””

 Not being the smartest person alive, I’ve often wondered how one thief could SEE the need for a SAVIOR, while the other one was almost REBUKING with his response?   Both “law-breakers” were getting that which was deserved by them, but one would “be with ME in paradise”, according to GOD IN THE FLESH while paying for my sins!! 

I am BLESSED to have never had to defend myself for any sort of criminal activity.  These two men were found guilty and sentenced to death by crucifixion, the most gruesome sentence used by the Roman authorities.  

But according to Scripture, GOD CHOSE the ones who BELIEVE IN JESUS “before the foundation of the world”, so JESUS KNEW that one would BELIEVE and that the other would reject HIM!  Imagine how much both men had going against themselves.  Both were judged to be guilty of death by crucifixion, yet JESUS only CHOSE one to experience SALVATION!!!  The other one wasn’t CHOSEN, so he rejected his opportunity to go with JESUS!

It must be wild to be “ONE OF THE CRIMINALS” who was CHOSEN by GOD INCARNATE while HE was dying for his transgressions??  But how much better is the life than his life??  We ALL must realize and LIVE like we are “ONE OF THE CRIMINALS” with NOTHING available for our redemption!!  Like the thief on the cross, we MUST become like “ONE OF THE CRIMINALS” and fall into HIS GRACE for our REDEMPTION!!!

“DO NOT LOSE HEART!”

 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18                 (ESV)

“[16] So we “DO NOT LOSE HEART”. Though our outer self is WASTING AWAY, our inner self is being renewed day by day. [17] FOR THIS LIGHT MOMENTARY AFFLICTION is PREPARING FOR US AN ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY BEYOND ALL COMPARISON, [18] as we look NOT to THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT SEEN but to THE THINGS THAT ARE UNSEEN. For THE THINGS THAT ARE SEEN ARE TRANSIENT, but THE THINGS THAT ARE UNSEEN ARE ETERNAL.”

My perspective about life in general has dramatically changed since July 09, 2007!  What we do very often is to compare things that we have experienced in “this world” to what we have waiting for us in our NEW HOME that JESUS is currently preparing for us.  

Humanity does not have the vocabulary to describe what Heaven will be like, if for no other reason, because THE SAME SPIRIT WHO CREATED “this world” developing HIS MASTERPIECE, something that HE is doing for at least two thousand years (John 14:1-14)!  

In the three verses of Scripture that are the focal passages this morning, the Apostle Paul writes that as as our minds are VASTLY broader than man can comprehend, the PLACE that JESUS is preparing for us is going to blow our minds and souls, so much so that we “might” be shocked by the GLORY of HEAVEN……….FOR ETERNITY!!!

So our mentality needs to be on THE THINGS ARE UNSEEN, not THE THINGS THAT ARE TRANSIENT (Temporary, fleeting, ephemeral, brief, passing, and impermanent)!  Our eternal HOME will be more than the human minds can conceive!  (1 Corinthians 2:9!). 

“DO NOT LOSE HEART”, for the ONE WHO CREATED “this world” is preparing our future ETERNAL HOME!  Best of all, our ETERNITY will be SPENT SERVING AND ADORING HIM, FOREVER AND FOREVER!!!

“THINK WITH SOBER JUDGMENT!”

 

Romans 12:3                 (ESV)

Gifts of Grace

“[3] For by the GRACE GIVEN TO ME I say to everyone among you NOT to think of himself MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT to think, but to “THINK WITH SOBER JUDGMENT”, each ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF FAITH THAT GOD HAS ASSIGNED.”

Most of the time the subject I write about daily is placed on my heart by the HOLY SPIRIT.  It isn’t because I am SO HOLY, but because I am NOT capable of HEARING from GOD without HIM taking control of my mind!!  This morning I typed the words “bible do not think more highly of yourself” into the internet search engine and Romans 12:3 was the overwhelming response.  

The letter to THE CHURCH in the city of Rome was written by the Apostle Paul.  In Romans 1:8-15 he wrote to the BELIEVERS living near Rome that he “longed” to visit with them and share what GOD had done, and was doing, to and through him.  

In the focal passage of Scripture this morning, Paul writes “by the grace given to me”, leaving it clear to us that his knowledge was far beyond his ability to comprehend.  

Then he writes that “everyone among you NOT to think of himself MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT to think”!  Those words were NOT written as a suggestion, but as a command!  

“But to “THINK WITH SOBER JUDGMENT”” is something that really stood out to me when reading it!  One definition of SOBER is defined as “marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness”.  

My temperament was totally changed after the Brain Hemorrhage.  It was something that GOD did, so I just have to accept it and proceed!  I used to talk about anything, whether I knew what I was talking about or not!  But GOD “refit” my brain to speak by the GRACE GIVEN TO ME and my words were completely different!  GOD OPENED my Brain Damaged mind to comprehend that HE has given me, ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF FAITH THAT GOD HAS ASSIGNED!!  It is NOT anything that I have done, but I am now able to “THINK WITH SOBER JUDGMENT” and ONLY then will I be able to SPEAK FOR HIM!!!

“FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER!”

 

Luke 14:8-11                 (ESV)

[8] “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, [9] and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. [10] But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, “‘FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER.’” Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. [11] FOR EVERYONE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED.””

The “parable” shown in the Scripture passage above has been entitled The Parable Of The Wedding Feast.  A “parable” is defined as “a concise story that conveys a moral, spiritual, or theological truth by means of everyday illustrations and relatable experiences”.  JESUS used “words” so exquisitely to achieve HIS desired outcome in the particular situation.  It is understandable that in the book of John HE referred to as THE WORD, because HE encapsulated ALL THE GOOD that WORDS can describe!!!

THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES was speaking to THE CREATED and HIS MESSAGE wasn’t very difficult to understand.  My humanity generally doesn’t lend itself to anything that isn’t revealed to me in a relatively short period of time.  But THE KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS was sharing that the people hearing HIS WORDS were being BLESSED to experience.  

JESUS told those who were “listeners” that whenever they were invited to a wedding feast, that they needed to consider themselves BLESSED to be invited!  When “your host” SEES where you are seated, he “may” say to you “FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER “!  But these words might leave you where you are …..FOR A SEASON!!!  

Our “HOST” for the HEAVENLY gathering we are scheduled to attend will be NONE OTHER than the ORATOR of this parable, THE WORD!!!  I will be BLESSED just to be at this gathering!  But I will HONORED to be told “FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER” by the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS…….. if HE so chooses!!!

Bishop Robert E Smith, Sr.

 From @Bishop Robert E Smith Sr!

“Being built up in the faith REQUIRES a life of prayer (Jude 1:20; Eph. 6:18), while stirring up the gift within you requires a sense of responsibility and accountability (Eph. 3:7; 2 Tim. 1:6,7).”

“RABBONI!”

 

John 20:16                 (ESV)

“[16] JESUS said to her, “MARY”. She turned and said to HIM in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).”

Briefly, yet PRECISELY, this morning…..

Mary PRECISELY KNEW WHO JESUS was ONLY when HE said her name!  No questions, no explanations, HE just said “MARY”!!!  She was in a state of emotional distress!  Yet JESUS simply called her name and she KNEW that her “Rabonni” was with her!!

We too need to be able to SEE that JESUS KNOWS and CHERISHES us as well, so much so that HE DIED for our sins when we were SO UNDESERVING!  Can you imagine how IMPERFECT Mary Magdalene (John 20:18)  was before meeting JESUS?  Yet THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES cared enough about her that HE REVEALED HIMSELF to her when she had NO HOPE of SEEING HIM again!!!

HE may, and frequently does, cause us to WAIT FOR HIM until the PERFECT TIMING, until we are ALL ALONE with NO OTHER OPTIONS, to simply GROW OUR FAITH and meet our needs???  HE IS GOD, and HIS greatest GIFT to us is to REVEAL to one of HIS BELIEVERS that HE is there for our DELIVERANCE!!!

Mary Magdalene had known HIM for three years, but she now had EXPERIENCED HIM like NO ONE ELSE!!!  

“RABBONI”!!!

“MARY!”

 

John 20:11-18                 (ESV)

JESUS Appears to Mary Magdalene

“[11] But “MARY” stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of JESUS had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my LORD, and I do not know where they have laid HIM.” [14] Having said this, she turned around and saw JESUS standing, but SHE DID NOT KNOW that it was JESUS. [15] JESUS said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing HIM to be the gardener, she said to HIM, “SIR, if you have carried HIM away, tell me where you have laid HIM, and I will take HIM away.” [16] JESUS said to her, “MARY”. She turned and said to HIM in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). [17] JESUS said to her, “Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to the FATHER; but go to MY brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my FATHER and your FATHER, to MY GOD and your GOD.’” [18]  “MARY” Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the LORD”—and that HE  had said these things to her.”

While mowing the lawn yesterday I was ruminating about the Scriptures above, having written about them only a few hours previously.  There were two disciples who had visited the tomb that morning with “MARY”, but they had gone back to tell others the FANTASTIC news about JESUS!   However, “MARY” lingered around the tomb FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON.  AND THEN she had the encounter with THE CREATOR that SHOCKED THE WORLD, at least those of us whose EYES HAVE BEEN OPENED!!!

When JESUS spoke directly to her, she did not realize it was HIM.  Thinking HIM to be the gardener, she replied “SIR, if you have carried HIM away, tell me where you have laid HIM, and I will take HIM away.”  But JESUS simply replied “MARY”, and her EYES were OPENED and she was able to SEE JESUS plainly.  One might think that because of her deep love for JESUS that she would have clung to HIM, but HE said to her “Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to the FATHER; but go to MY brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my FATHER and your FATHER, to MY GOD and your GOD.”  

Why didn’t JESUS “reveal” HIMSELF to the disciples when they were at the tomb?  Why did HE wait until HE was in the presence of HIS Angels with ONLY “MARY”?  I DON’T KNOW WHY….YET!!!   I only KNOW that “MARY” was CHOSEN to be the first person to RECOGNIZE her Savior since HIS brutal death on Calvary!!!  

“MARY” must have been the sweetest words that she ever heard!!!