July 20, 2021

“Come now, and let us reason together” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”  Isaiah 1:18

“Look to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”  Isaiah 45:22

 Beloved, do you hear how ready and willing Almighty God is to save? He is love. He is the God of all encouragement! There is a powerful Biblical truth sometimes referred to as: “changed by beholding”. The change can be positive or negative, depending on the focus of the beholder.  Sound reasoning should clue us in that the consumption of godless entertainment is no less toxic to the mind than poisonous substances are to the body. Sadly, we are all negatively affected by bad choices we have made. But that is not the final word! Even in the midst of the reality of our sinful condition, the LORD Himself appeals to our sense of reason. Not only does He desire to save us from sin, but He has the power to do so. Not only does He wish to heal our injured minds from bad choices we have made, but He has the power to redirect our future choices in a healthy direction. It is the attitude of the individual that determines whether or not divine power will effect a change.

 The story of the crucified criminal who received the gift of salvation (let’s call him criminal #1) is a magnificent and encouraging account of just how miraculously change comes to a truly thoughtful “beholder.” When the other criminal spoke blasphemously to Jesus, this one rebuked him, saying,

 “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 

Luke 23:40-41

 Let’s take a look at what criminal #1 beheld that altered his thinking and reasoning. He watched the suffering Son of God and listened to the way He replied to cruel accusations. He observed the way Jesus treated His tormentors, and noted that Jesus did not lash out toward those who ridiculed Him. Beholding the sinless Lamb of God on that cruel cross brought about a total transformation. Criminal #1’s reasoning ability, a gift from God, led him to see the purity of Jesus. As he responded to his blasphemous counterpart, he even voiced his identity with him as a “just recipient” of the death penalty.  

 But wait..! Criminal #2 saw and heard the very same things! With a selfish focus, however, his reasoning ability was clouded. There was no acknowledgement of the innocence of the Savior or of his own guilt.

 Thank the LORD today for your precious mind and ask Him to guide you to use it as He intended. 

 Then he (criminal #1) said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”  Luke 23:42