"விதைகளின் உள்ளே" 🌳
Bible Meditation No. 1753
AATHAVAN – 25.11.2025, Tuesday
“Jesus, remember me when You come in Your
kingdom!” (Luke 23:42)
Today, many of us pray in
various ways. In Christian churches too, numerous prayer initiatives are
conducted—midnight prayers, fasting prayers, chain prayers, intercessory
prayers, youth prayers, women’s fellowship, special prayer worship, and the
list goes on endlessly. But in these prayer gatherings, how far are people made
aware of sin? This remains a big question.
Beloved, we must first
understand one truth: any prayer without repentance is not acceptable before
God.
The prayer we read in
today’s meditation is not a long prayer made by a great saint. Instead, it is
the plea of a thief who had been sentenced to death. A prayer consisting of
barely seven or eight words.
Today, Christians take
several prayers from the Bible as models—Jabez’s prayer, Moses’ prayer, the
prayers of David and Solomon—and use them often. But the prayer of this
condemned criminal was not decorated with poetic words; rather, it was a
heartfelt cry that rose from deep sorrow and repentance.
Before he prayed to Jesus
Christ, let us notice what he said to the other thief crucified beside him: “Do
you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for
our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:40–41)
This means he had realized
his sin. He accepted that his punishment was just. He understood that Jesus
Christ is sinless, and that He is the Messiah who forgives sins. Therefore, he
prayed: “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.”
And Jesus replied to him: “Truly
I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
Yes, beloved, long extended
prayers and fastings without repentance are not acceptable to God. But even a
short prayer that comes from a truly repentant heart is received graciously by
the Lord.
A man who lived his entire
life as a thief prayed a simple prayer in repentance—and he received the
glorious promise: “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” If Christ
granted him eternal life, will He not hear our prayer?
Let us examine ourselves. Has
our sinful way of life ever pierced our hearts? Or are we praying without any
understanding or conviction?
Beloved, no one should say, “I
don’t know how to pray.” Can we not pray as this thief prayed?
If we, like him, realize our
sins, truly repent for what we have done, and seek forgiveness from the Lord,
God will certainly forgive and accept us.
For the Scripture says:
“If we confess our sins, He
is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Message by: Bro. M. Geo Prakash
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