Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise. Luke 23:43

One of the most impactful ways we can see and share God’s heart is through compassion. Those who show compassion step outside of themselves to help others in their time of weakness. Compassion is light in darkness, hope for helplessness, and strength for the weak and weary. In the scripture passage we can see the light of God’s love shining through to the weak and weary, and helpless at the darkest moment in their life. Jesus reached out to the guilty thief and gave him the strength out of His own dying body and promised hope in his darkest hour. The words of Jesus would not deliver the thief from the fate of his death on the cross, but the thief’s mustard seed of faith in Jesus (Mt 17:20) would deliver him from the eternal torment and damnation that he so deserved. Beaten and bruised, breathing His last breaths, Jesus breathed life and hope into the dying thief with His words, “To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” Though the heavens became darken, and God’s wrath was being poured out on the Lamb of God, the love and compassion of our heavenly Father to save sinners never ceased. God’s love never fails (1 Cor 13:8). The heart of God is compassionate for sinner and to save them from sin to eternal life. Jesus was faithful to every ounce of strength and life that the Father gave Him to do the Father’s will. His compassion never fails. “He is able to save to the uttermost those that come to God through Him, for He ever lives to make intercession for us” (Heb 7:25). My friend, if He had time on Golgotha to consider the thief in His dying moments on the Cross, how much more will He think of you, and is He concerned for you, and is ready to receive you to Himself and change you forever? Salvation is of grace and not of work (Eph 2:8-9). The thief was never baptized, he never took the bread and drank the cup, and yet his heart called out to Jesus and the Savior heard him and saved him. Dear friend, thankfully the way of salvation never changes. He who had compassion to save the dying thief, continues to “seek and save that which was lost” (Lk 19:10). His love and compassion never fail (1 Cor 13:8). Do you know His love, and have you received His compassion? Father thank You for Your love and Your unfailing compassion. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.