Luke 23:43 - Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
So today is Monday. I remember a Monday in my recent past when I was at the room in a hospital where pastors go to sign in, and it happened again. A person greeted me, nice and cheerful. But, when I asked how they were, they said, "Well, I've almost made it through Monday, and I hope God will help me make it through Tuesday."
And I thought, "Here's another who doesn't understand." So I said, "Ya know, God wants us to more than just make it through a day. That's a weary existence. God wants us to be genuinely joyful in every moment as he lives in us by His Holy Spirit."
The person stopped and said, "Wow! That's exciting! I feel better already! I guess I was just thinking about normal days where it seems we go it alone."
Ah, it seems!
Friends, whatever may seem true to you, here's the truth in today's Bible verse: Today, you will be with Jesus in Paradise.
We tend to hear this as, "Well, someday down the road, when I die, I'll get to be with Jesus. But for now, I hope I can make it through the day like I did yesterday."
But this is what Jesus wants us to hear, "Dear Children of God, whenever I tell you something will be today, it's my promise to you for today. And when you believe my promise, it's immediately your reality in that moment. So, when I promise that today you will be with me in Paradise, if you will believe it, you'll immediately have a joyful Paradise with me. And your weary existence is no more."
And that's the way it is in the whole Bible. Whenever God speaks and uses the words "will" and "today" together, God is making a promise that immediately becomes reality when we believe. God's blessings are right in front of us to claim in faith: His Victory, His Presence, His Preparing the Way, His Prosperity, His Providence, His Provision, His Paradise and more, as are listed in the Bible verses after today's "Praise God!"
So, don't just survive the day; instead, you can thrive today! All you need to do is believe the promises of God, and you will!
Praise God!
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