He was only in his early 30’s and they murdered him. He was a young man who traveled around the country engaging people with debate and stories and ideas. He most often met with people, young and old, out in the open where they were and he was always vulnerable. There were many times when folks didn’t like what he said, but he never brought hate or the desire of death or destruction to those who differed with him or even
hated him. But he always dealt with folks with love and respect. But he never backed down from what he stood for. Lots of folks wanted him gone, even dead and they found the perfect way and place to do it. It was a set up; he was killed and there were those who publicly rejoiced that he was gone. But then on the third day after his death he rose from the grave and proved himself to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He died forgiving those who murdered him and those who rejoiced at his death with the words “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” One of the men next to this young man on another cross who had been tried for crimes and found guilty asked the man on the middle cross “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And that Jesus told him “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” That’s all it took…just that small bit of humility and faith. Another young man in his 30’s was murdered yesterday. He went on college campuses and challenged kids to think about their ideas and challenged them to justify them. Some debates were light and lively…others were hard and passionate. But he never spoke of hate. He spoke openly of looking at life in a different way. Charlie Kirk was murdered on a Utah college campus, but he believed passionately and talked openly and often about his belief in the saving power of that other 30 something man named Jesus. They took his life yesterday, but they couldn’t separate him from the Jesus he loved and wanted others to love too. I will never be able to make people believe and trust in this Jesus of the Bible. I have no power to make that happen. But I can do what Jesus of the Bible taught me when he said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” I won’t wish you dead, I won’t rejoice over your death or suffering or misfortune. And I won’t love you the way I should all the time…but I won’t ever quit trying. Because that other 30-year-old on the middle cross has changed me forever and when it is time for my journey on this earth to be over, I am confident I will be with him like that convict that died with him that day and like Charlie Kirk who died yesterday. And it won’t be because I was ever good enough or even just good. But because he graciously offered me love and forgiveness…and when I accepted him, he took the sword out of my heart and let me have a part of his. And for that I will be grateful for all eternity. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Romans 8:38-39 BSB For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Remember I’m praying for you…
With love, PJ
hated him. But he always dealt with folks with love and respect. But he never backed down from what he stood for. Lots of folks wanted him gone, even dead and they found the perfect way and place to do it. It was a set up; he was killed and there were those who publicly rejoiced that he was gone. But then on the third day after his death he rose from the grave and proved himself to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He died forgiving those who murdered him and those who rejoiced at his death with the words “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” One of the men next to this young man on another cross who had been tried for crimes and found guilty asked the man on the middle cross “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And that Jesus told him “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” That’s all it took…just that small bit of humility and faith. Another young man in his 30’s was murdered yesterday. He went on college campuses and challenged kids to think about their ideas and challenged them to justify them. Some debates were light and lively…others were hard and passionate. But he never spoke of hate. He spoke openly of looking at life in a different way. Charlie Kirk was murdered on a Utah college campus, but he believed passionately and talked openly and often about his belief in the saving power of that other 30 something man named Jesus. They took his life yesterday, but they couldn’t separate him from the Jesus he loved and wanted others to love too. I will never be able to make people believe and trust in this Jesus of the Bible. I have no power to make that happen. But I can do what Jesus of the Bible taught me when he said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” I won’t wish you dead, I won’t rejoice over your death or suffering or misfortune. And I won’t love you the way I should all the time…but I won’t ever quit trying. Because that other 30-year-old on the middle cross has changed me forever and when it is time for my journey on this earth to be over, I am confident I will be with him like that convict that died with him that day and like Charlie Kirk who died yesterday. And it won’t be because I was ever good enough or even just good. But because he graciously offered me love and forgiveness…and when I accepted him, he took the sword out of my heart and let me have a part of his. And for that I will be grateful for all eternity. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Romans 8:38-39 BSB For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Remember I’m praying for you…
With love, PJ