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Gleanings From The Word

Category: devotional

  • Issue 1706 – Last Minute Decisions – April 11, 2025

    Issue 1706 – Last Minute Decisions – April 11, 2025

    Three crosses by Rembrandt
    Three Crosses by Rembrandt

    This morning, during my pre-Easter reading, I looked at the  account of Jesus’s crucifixion. Specifically, I was reading the account of the two thieves who were crucified alongside Him.

    It’s a story with several huge contrasts. Firstly. the two criminals were guilty of the crimes that led to their deaths and knew it. In contrast, Jesus was innocent of everything they convicted Him of. Secondly, we see one of the guilty pair openly mock Jesus while the other recognizes who Jesus is and turns to HIm.

    One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:39-42

    We’ve heard it before, so Jesus’ answer has lost some of its impact. Yet, it really is stunning.

    And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23

    The thief has done nothing of merit. He has no good works to cling to. Yet, he recognizes his own wretched state, understood who Jesus is, and threw himself into Jesus’ mercy. Yet, that’s all that he needed to do.

    Jesus willingly submitted to rejection, humiliation, torture, mocking, and death to set us free.

    No one can come to Christ after they have died, but there is always hope that in the moment of those final breaths, they will understand and be saved. 

    I don’t know who will be in paradise when I get there. There will be many horrid sinners who came to Him at the last possible moment. Many “good” people who rejected Him until it was too late will be absent.

    When I was pastoring, I did funerals of believers and non-believers alike. If I wasn’t certain of their final destination, I always held forth the promise and real hope that before it was too late, they, like the thief, understood the truth and appealed to Jesus.

    If you know Jesus, keep praying for your unsaved friends, family, and loved ones until they have passed on. Jesus can work miracles.

    If you don’t yet know Him, seek Him and turn to Him now. You may not have an opportunity later.

    Your salvation isn’t about how good or bad you are. It isn’t about weighing your good deeds against your bad. It’s about the love of Jesus and trusting Him.

    I pray that you and yours find Him and that we will see each other in Paradise.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Gleanings From The Word
    Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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    All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.

    Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV). 

  • In Bloom – In God’s perfect timing

    In Bloom – In God’s perfect timing

    magnolia blossoms

    The magnolia trees are in full bloom. Actually, they are nearing  the end of their blooming season.

    I typically think of magnolias as “tulip” trees because their blooms remind me of tulips, but I have learned that the tulip tree is another species altogether.

    Whatever they are called, they certainly make for fantastic floral displays in the spring. Here in the Lower Mainland, they are grown in large numbers, so you can drive down entire streets full of them. It is a beautiful sight.

    Magnolias are not winter-hardy trees. I don’t recall ever seeing one in Northern BC or the prairies. There are many varieties ranging from near dwarfs to massive specimens over 100 feet tall.

    The magnolia blooming season is short, lasting only a few weeks in the spring. Afterward, it fades into the realm of being “just another tree” on someone’s lawn. I hardly even give them a glance when driving by.

    We don’t pay attention, not thinking the tree must put in another full year of growing to put in net spring’s blooms.

    It can be that way in our relationship with God. We notice if He is working in some spectacular way, forgetting that He is at work in us every moment of every day. Many times, a great deal of work comes into play behind the scenes to make it happen.

    Many people I know consider their conversion experience to be some decision made instantaneously. They forget that God orchestrated things behind the scenes their entire lives until that moment. 

    He knew what you would have to go through and how many times you would need to hear the gospel before you would bend your knee. He put people in place to pray for you, sometimes for many years before you truly hear and respond.

    We can get frustrated, waiting for our friends and loved ones to have that magnolia bloom moment and accept Christ. We cannot give up on them. God knows His elect and will not abandon moving heaven and earth until they are all sealed with His Spirit.

    The Lord hears our prayers.

    But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9

    Hold steady. Continue to pray, to love others, and to share the gospel. God is faithful even when we feel we can endure no more. He is working behind the scenes, even when the results are not apparent to us yet.

    Hold fast and be encouraged. God is working on a more beautiful harvest than a street full of magnolias.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Gleanings From The Word
    Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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    Beautiful Roses

    A lesson from the lilies