Seven Last Words Daily Devotional -11

LUKE 23:43 | ⁴³ He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

 MATTHEW 25:31-34 | ³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, ³³ and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. ³⁴ Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

The causal and direct authority of Jesus’ pronouncement is striking. He does not say, “I’ll put in a good word for you with my Father.” He doesn’t give platitudinous approval to the criminal’s faith, “wow, that is remarkable hope.” Instead, He simply passes final judgement, claiming ultimate authority over life and death, without any fanfare or fuss.

As He taught in Matthew 25, the Son of Man is the great and final figure responsible for judging human beings. This gives you and I reasons for holy fear and great gladness! We needn’t worry about the judgements of other people and are accountable only to the very One who loves us despite our flaws.

 Do you, in your relationship with Jesus, take account of His position as final Judge?

Tags: glory, sheep, paradise, goats