A DESPERATE REQUEST

Day 37 -- April 11, 2019
Daily Scripture Reading: Luke 23:39-43

“And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” LUKE 23:42-43
He feels the nails, too. He takes the burning breaths. The criminal on the cross next to Jesus identifies with Him in a terrible and unique way. Side by side, they endure the pain. When the criminal defends Jesus and then turns to Him to make one last request, we see how Jesus can change someone’s heart. The criminal realizes that he deserves to be on the cross, but Jesus is innocent. He recognizes that Jesus is the person He claims to be. And Jesus shows that He cares for the lowest outcast, even as His body screams with pain and fights for breath.

TODAY Spend time in prayer and express your heart to a Savior who hears. We deserve death, but Jesus took our place. Our past doesn’t concern Him. He identifies with us in our most painful moments and hears our desperate pleas.