With Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter coming soon, this Hello From Maple Grove hopes to remind us of the great depth of God's grace, given freely at the very end to a thief on the cross who died next to Jesus. It also reminds us that Jesus' death was not the end...but only the beginning and that He will come again!!! :)

"Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.' "
-Luke 23: 42-43

A Thief

There were two criminals crucified along side Jesus (read Luke 23: 32-43). Perhaps they had been thieves? Who knows what crimes they had committed? One of them, even at the end of his life, joined the crowds in mocking Jesus (see Luke 23: 39). Do you know of someone who has denied Jesus all the way to the end? How sad that some choose this. The other criminal, however, placed his faith in Christ and humbly asked for grace (see Luke 23: 42 above). There may have never been a moment in this man's life where he 'honored' God's commands. Not to the very end did he humble himself before God and ask for forgiveness. What was Jesus' reaction? "Sorry, too little, too late?" NO! Jesus had compassion and gave him grace (see Luke 23: 43 above). That is how wonderful our Lord is. Providing mercy at the very end to a man who perhaps had never given God a second of thought before, who knew he didn't deserve it. Yet Jesus forgave him. There are times when I feel that I'm worse than the criminal crucified with Christ. How can I, someone who knows Jesus, believes in Jesus, fall short and slip into sin? Yet I do. How about you? But the same grace, given on the cross to the criminal, is available to me and you as well. I pray that we never take it for granted. I pray that our hearts are always willing to humble ourselves before God to ask for it. I pray that we will lift up our hearts in praise and thank the Lord for his tremendous grace!

There is another to look at this word, thief. Jesus refers to himself and his second coming as a thief. "Behold, I come like a thief!..." (Revelation 16: 15). Jesus' second coming is also compared to a thief in 1st Thessalonians. "...for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." (1st Thessalonians 5: 2). In both instances the verses that follow warn about being ready, not being caught off guard. How do you do this? I believe it's a question of your heart. Even the criminal, who asked for Jesus' mercy on the cross, understood. "Don't you fear God...?" (Luke 23: 40). Being ready means having a heart that fears and loves the Lord. The world wasn't ready for Jesus' 1st visit. Little did people expect that baby born in a manger in Bethlehem to amount to anything much. How wrong they were! The world won't be ready for Jesus' next visit as well. However, you can be. It is a question of your heart. Is your heart ready for the 'thief' that comes in the night?

Take a moment and encourage someone this week.

I pray that things are well with you. Please let me know if you have any prayer concerns or praises. Have a great week and remember to smile :), the Lord loves you!

In Christ,

Shan D. Hartsough

"...for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."
-1st Thessalonians 5: 2

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