On Sunday we heard and believed the last Holy Gospel of the church year - Luke 23:27-43. Among other things, it led me back to this devotion.
"According to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord" (Ps. 25:7).
One time on a nursing home visit, I sat and talked with a Christian man who realized he was losing his ability to remember. He was scared and requested some bit of spiritual advice. You may know a person who is struggling with the same thing. As he talked, I listened, and as I listened, God gave me an idea.
When it was my turn I simply said to him, "Become a thief. Become a robber. That's what you're to do." I stopped.
"I could never do that, Pastor. You know that. I would never do that," he replied. But he also knew I had a reason for saying it.
Without even opening the Bible, together we remembered the crucifixion and how there were two thieves. And how one of them had a change of heart and prayed a most beautiful prayer: "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42).
"Now," I said, "you become that thief. You ask Jesus to remember you. For so much of your life you have remembered God and His Word. You have remembered the Sabbath day. You have taken Communion in remembrance of Jesus. Now let Him remember you. He will never forget you! Never forsake you! Until the day comes when He says, 'Today you will be with Me in Paradise' (Luke 23:43)."
Do your best to remember God. But know this: Should you ever lose that ability, He will remember you!
