“Remember me, Lord”

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. (Titus 3:5a KJV)

If there is anything that Easter reminds us, it is that “salvation”—God’s wonderful gift of peace with Him in this life and in the life to come—is not something we achieve by what we do. It’s something that has already been done for us.

“This day you will be with Me in paradise,” He told the dying thief, hanging on the adjacent cross. There was nothing that thief could do about his situation, his past, and certainly not his future, as he was being executed for his crimes. There was, however, something he could think and say. “Remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom.” An expression of faith was all it took.

That’s a lesson for us. None of us quite make the grade. If reconciliation with God were dependent on the things we do, we wouldn’t get it. The wonderful thing is we don’t have to make the grade.

The Son of God took on the life of a human being, lived amongst us, listening, watching, touching, healing. His love for us was so great that even though He knew what He was about to suffer, He allowed Himself to be taken, to be beaten and whipped, and finally to be nailed to the cross.

No matter our fears and worries, no matter our regrets and guilt, no matter our feelings of inadequacy, when we pray, “Remember me, Lord,” He does. Let’s set our concerns and cares aside and be with Him today.

Prayer: Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God, that You died on the cross in my place, and rose again from death. Please grant me the gift of Your forgiveness, that I may live forever at peace with You. Amen

[1] Activated Being with God