Encountering JesusSample

DISCOVER

The other criminal, who had also been mocking Jesus at the beginning of the morning, now made an abrupt change. Or was it? We can never know what is in someone’s heart. The man watched Jesus’ reaction to the same horrible situation he was in, but with very different behavior. It could be that God worked on this man, chasing him through his life of crime. Now he saw God in the flesh! He announced his belief in this sinless messiah and admitted his guilt. And then he made a request – “Remember me in your kingdom.”

LEARN

People naturally judge the motives of other people. We tend to think “We know what is in their heart.” Can we truly know? We can watch their behavior over time. It is true that our real intentions eventually come out. But the only behavior we know about this man on the cross was a life of crime – at least enough to be executed. We can listen to their talk. At first, this man was mocking Jesus like everyone else. His true heart came out in his final words. And it does not matter what we see or hear – God ALWAYS knows the heart.

APPLY

Why do you think we are quick to judge the spiritual sincerity of other people? To be sure, there is a place to look at the “fruit” in someone’s life to help them grow in grace. But we are not to “judge.” What causes us to put ourselves in the place of religious judges? Take a look at your own life – who do you naturally judge? Who’s spiritual sincerity is suspect to you? Why is that? Ask God to give you humility, forgiveness, and a discerning spirit.