What is your favorite Bible verse? It is always interesting to hear the choices people make. In reality, this is not a test. No one fails. There is no wrong answer – only good ones.

I love so many but one pulls at my heart every time. It means something to me…something that confirms that the grace of God flows freely to the righteous and those that may be deemed unworthy. It flows to sinners.

In Jesus final hours on this earth and as He nears death on the cross, he has two criminals to each side of Him enduring the same fate in death. These two criminals are just like us. They are unworthy, lowly, and reeking of sin. Even in His final moments, Jesus is partnered with two very unlovable sinners.

One criminal choose this time to berate and deny Jesus. He mocks Him even as he is dying.

The other criminal does something astonishing. He believes. I don’t know the depth of his sins but in this one incredible moment of faith, he turns to Jesus and says “remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42

Jesus response with my favorite verse “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

What beautiful words of comfort. What a gift to that sinner. What a relief to a weary soul.

There are many verses to hang your faith upon but this one sentence means the world to me. It reminds me that while I tread this earthly path, it is not my permanent home…I belong to and believe in a Savior who guarantees that I will, one day, live with Him in paradise.

On this Good Friday, I look to my precious Lord and I say…

Remember me…