March 12th, 2015

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Forgiveness

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

Want an interesting assignment? Google famous last words. Man! Talk about a litany of quotes!! What does that have to do with forgiveness and this post? Hang in there with me…please. 🙂

I am taking an interlude from Galatians and preaching a short series called “Famous Last Words.” I’m doing the first four; Ryan is taking the next two; I have the final one on Easter.  The Gospels writers recorded the 7 last sayings from the cross. As I studied them I was struck by how they fall together-almost in twos. The first two are absolutely beautiful:

“Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”

“Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Did you know the Greek construction of the first saying literally means He kept on praying “Father, forgive them”? It has always been depicted as a one-and-done scene. Not true. Each time something happened those words fell from His lips. Amazing!

And He still had time to acknowledge the thief on the cross and secure his salvation: “Today you WILL BE with me…”  An act of forgiveness which released this career criminal from his chains and set him free.

That story never changes and I love telling it. So does Eileen. Go take a look at her post from yesterday.  In the meantime, I’d appreciate your prayers for Sunday. Thanks.