DAY 33 WITH THE SON

I'm taking the 40 days leading up the Christmas to focus on the life of Jesus and do a mini-reflection and devotion. I'm following along with Liza on her special blog called 40 Days with the Son, based on the Max Lucado book 3:16.

Here is how to join us in reflection of the spirit of this upcoming holiday season.

TWO THIEVES- TWO CHOICES- "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ." Romans 8:1

Great passage and meditation today. In the past year at my church, we did a study on Jesus Dying words. We studied each word that He spoke from the Cross and examined its significance to the salvation story. I think the story is interesting in that it tells us a little bit about heaven: we go there immediately upon death (therefore we are judged upon death), we will have our senses and physical bodies to see, Jesus will be with us in Heaven, it's never too late to accept Christ's forgiveness. How blessed is this thief who was the first person ever to receive the gift of Christ's forgiveness on the cross?

On another note, the specific verse talks about condemnation and there being none in Christ. It doesn't say there is no sin or no evil or no bad time or sad events or disobedience. People who believe in Christ are still capable of committing all those unholy behaviors, but the scripture says there is no condemnation- no guilty verdict. Too often Christians today will point at others as being guilty sinners for committing a select group of sins, while over looking their own sins- even the sins of judgement and self-righteousness. Jesus blood on the cross declares all followers, guilty of all sins, Innocent before God.

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: My faith in the Father, who will never judge me, has helped me to let go of caring so much what others think about me and how they will judge me.