Heart Tracks - Between Two Thieves

"As God's partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God's great kindness. For God says, 'At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you.' Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:1-2....." 'Now' is being crucified between the thieves of 'yesterday' and 'tomorrow.' " Eugene Peterson

In our lives, where is the 'now' opportunity for freedom, abundance, healing, and newness being crucified between the "thieves" that hold us captive? Thieves that make their home in our yesterdays and tomorrows.

It is a tragedy to behold people rejecting Jesus not only once, but many times. I see it everyday. You may as well. How many of us would admit to being guilty of doing the same? How many of us have had Him come to us in the midst of our fears, worry and anxiety? Our weakness, and yes, our patterns of sin, and rejected again and again, His offers of freedom? We do so not because we don't believe that He can do what He offers, but because we are robbed of our "now" moment in Him by our captivity to our yesterdays and tomorrows. We want to be free, but our "jailers" in the form of yesterdays sin, failure, abuse, and loss, and tomorrows unknown, keep us shackled, and once more, we miss today's "now" moment and chance.

Someone said that Peter did not step out and walk upon the sea, but upon the power of Christ's word, "Come!" That word from Him, that invitation, is before us. It is before us now. But its power will not be known until we first speak, in His strength, the words "no longer," to the two thieves. No longer will they hold us captive. No longer will they exercise the crippling effects of fear, dread, guilt and shame upon us. When this happens, we step out into His welcoming invitation...and find healing, wholeness, freedom.

Have not the two thieves wreaked enough havoc? Isn't it time for their tyranny to end? All the power of the two thieves, and the devil that empowers them, could not hold Him. In His resurrection, He broke their power completely. Therefore, in Him, they cannot hold us either. Our "now" moment is today. Today is the day of salvation. Will it be your day, my day, today? May we not, on any level, reject His wonderful kindness. The power of the two thieves has been broken completely. Let it be completely broken in you. Now. Today. Forever......All we need do is step out into His invitation.....and come!

Blessings,
Pastor O