Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him ... But the other ... said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
~ Luke 23:39-43 (NKJV)
"When the LORD has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel ... then remember your maidservant." Then David said to Abigail: "Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And ... blessed are you."
~ 1 Samuel 25:30-33 (NKJV)
At the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will kneel and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
~ Philippians 2:10-11 (GW)
Abigail, a woman of wealth and stature, bowed before David, a homeless and hungry fugitive. She expressed faith in the Lord’s will that David would be king, summed up in the petition, "Remember me." Her reward was to become the wife of a king.
The criminal crucified with Jesus, the Son of David, likewise saw beyond Jesus’ immediate circumstances with the same request: "Remember me." What kind of faith speaks of Jesus as King and asks to be remembered while both men are dying?
This is the same faith asked of us. We must see beyond present circumstances of suffering and death and look to the One who promises us a kingdom not yet visible. Everyone will one day see Jesus as King and bow the knee to Him. He will remember those who believed in Him in these days when He is despised.
Our God and King, we earnestly wait with confidence for the day when Your kingdom on earth shall be visible. Please give us hearts to see eternal things even while the temporal vies for our attention. Please inspire us to keep our hearts humbly bowed before You as our Lord.
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
I love the connection between Abigail and the criminal. You gave me a new thought...thank you!
ReplyDeleteAmen! What a wonderful connection -- as Wendy said above.
ReplyDeleteWow. Ditto what Wendy and Beth said. What a great post - thanks.
ReplyDeleteHome run, Anne! I will always view "remember me" in a different light.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post!
Thanks for stopping by my blog, I might never have found yours otherwise.
What a delight to have extra faces here. May the Lord richly bless all of you with an extra awareness of His presence today.
ReplyDeleteAll these years reading scripture, and I had never paused to consider the connection between Abigail's petition and that of the criminal crucified with Jesus.
ReplyDeleteYou give me much to ponder today, Anne.