♫Oh, I swear, just ain’t fair
Trouble, trouble everywhere
Oh, Lord come on down
Got to spread some love around.
Jennifer Tomkins who wrote this song, was born on a Sunday, Her daddy got drunk, and left home on Monday. Her mama died young when Jenny was seven. She grew up knowing about trouble. This is the response of our Lord and savior Jesus, concerning trouble…
And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, TODAY you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
There are two responses to our own personal trouble:
1) We can rail against God and say, “If you are such a great and powerful and loving God, why am I in this dreadful mess?”
2) Or we can acknowledge that we are sinners saved by grace and don’t deserve any good thing. Then cry out for mercy and help in our time of anxiety.
The world is full of those who grumble against God in their self-righteousness and presume that the creator of the universe is obliged to make their life smooth. But there are only a few who own up to the fact that God OWES US NOTHING, and that any good to come our way will be due to HIS MERCY, not our merit.
“One of the criminals who hung there, hurled insults at Jesus…” (Luke 23:39)
The second sinner on the cross rebuked the complainer: “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? WE ARE PUNISHED JUSTLY, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, 1REMEMBER ME when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:40-42) 1mnaomai: recollect; by implication, to reward or punish.
What this man was doing was repenting, my personal words of repentance were “I’m sorry!” Well, did Jesus forgive him? YES! He Said: “TODAY you shall BE WITH ME in Paradise.”
Peace with God is only a repentance away…
Join with me today with an “I’m sorry!” …Bill Stockham