"One of
the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him" Aren't you the Christ? Save
yourself and us! But the other criminal rebuked him. 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, 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 23:40-43
These days it seems we need passwords to access so
many things. Online shopping requires one. Our bank machines require one. In
fact so many things require passwords that keeping track of them all nearly
drives me nuts.
Passwords are important however for they serve the
purpose of protecting what is valuable to us. If we did not have them anyone
might, simply by using our name, have access to our bank accounts, credit cards
and other personal information. Even with passwords sometimes fraud occurs due
to people's ability to outsmart the system.
No one however can outsmart God. And one day God, our
Father, will call each of us to stand before him and he will require the
password above all passwords from us to grant us access to His eternal Kingdom
of Heaven. Do you know the password? It is one which God himself has set for
each and every individual. And though it is in essence the same password for
all, each one must know and embrace it uniquely for themselves. It is a password
that cannot be broken or misused. Not even the cleverest of clever minds can
outsmart it for God and God alone knows the heart, mind and soul of every
individual and whether his password has been accepted and embraced in our lives.
The password is: I Have the Son.
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not
have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12 NIV
Passwords are important in today's society. Our
eternal password however is of far more value than tongue can tell. Do you have
yours?
Prayer: Father God thank you that you so loved the
world that you gave your one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life. Thank you that you did not send your Son into
the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Thank you
that whoever believes in him is not condemned but receives eternal life. We pray
this day that many worldwide will not only hear your wonderful message of love
through your Son, but they will also embrace Him by faith for he who has the Son
has life. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
lynnephipps@hotmail.com
Atlin, B.C.
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.