Old Testament reading: Psalm 46-50
“You thought that I was altogether like you” (Psalm 50:21). Man has the propensity to think of God as possessing earthly or human characteristics. In this case, God says, ‘Just because I haven’t punished your wickedness doesn’t mean I haven’t seen it or intend to ignore it’ (vv 16-21). There are numerous ways in which we can falsely attribute human qualities to the Divine One. When we offer worship or service to God that is not authorized by His word, we presume that He will be pleased to receive whatever comes from our hands. Psalm 50 is a stern rebuke of this attitude. Much of what is passed off as worship in the religious world today is designed to appeal to men, but we must remember that we cannot please God apart from obedience (cf 1 Sam 15:22). The Psalmist closes this song by identifying those who fail to obey God as “you who forget God” (v 22), and admonishing them that “to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God” (v 23). Right conduct is the only path to receive Divine reward.
New Testament reading: Luke 23-24
The account of the thief on the cross is generally only told from the side of the one who was penitent. It should be remembered that even the penitent thief was among those who reviled Jesus (Matt 27:44), but after three hours of observation, he changed his mind and pleaded for his Lord’s forgiveness. Luke’s account reveals the impenitent thief, being rebuked by his fellow, still had three hours to change his mind about Jesus. Moreover, he was given another miraculous sign when a great darkness covered the land. How hard must his heart have been! Condemned to die, and with salvation within reach of his outstretched arms, he went to eternity unprepared. Even when the sun started to shine again, he was still in darkness. We might say, when the sun came back, the SON was gone, and with Him all hope of salvation. What a tragedy!
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