Chronicles of The Cross - No One is Left Behind

This is a morning prayer and devotion session led by Pastor and Mrs. Amwasa at Harvest Chapel International Kumasi. The topic for today's devotion is "No one is left behind." The scripture reading is from Luke 23:39-43, where Jesus promises a thief on the cross that he will be with him in paradise. The message emphasizes that in Christ, everyone is important and no one is excluded. Jesus came for all people, regardless of their background or status. The devotion ends with a prayer and an invitation to stay connected and join future sessions. Shalom and a pleasant morning to you, beloved in the Lord. God bless you for being a part of this morning's prayer start-up and staying connected to be a part again for our morning glory devotion here at Harvest Chapel International Kumasi. This is Pastor and Mrs. Amwasa facilitating this morning's session. Let's share a word of prayer. Our dear Lord and Master Jesus, we thank you for yet another opportunity to come and fellowship and encounter you in your word. We pray that this morning you speak your word onto our hearts, grant us understanding and help us to be able to practice what we hear in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's take our confession together from Joshua chapter 1 verse 8. This book of the Lord shall not depart out of my mouth, but I shall meditate in it day and night, that I may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then I'll make my way prosperous and then I'll have good success. Amen. Beloved, the topic for this morning glory devotion as we continue our series on the chronicles of the cross is no one is left behind. No one is left behind. We'll take a scripture reading from the book of Luke chapter 23 verse 39 to 43. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed him, saying, If you are the Christ, save yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we received the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, Surely I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. The Lord add his blessings to the hearing and the reading of his word. No one is left behind. In Christ, no one is left behind. Everyone counts. We in our human mind are discriminatory. We have our preferences and we tend to favor selectively those we choose to love. It is not surprising for a child to have a favorite parent or a sibling. A parent may also have a favorite child. We all have our favorite friends. For us as human beings, it may be difficult for us to accept or mingle with a certain category of people. We work in classes based on our societal statuses, academic achievements, family name, etc. We often don't mind excluding anyone who doesn't fit in. Beloved, this is not so in Christ. In the beginning, God created man in his own image and likeness. He sees all of us in Christ through the lens of his love. So according to the reconciliatory plan of God, Jesus came in order to bring all men, without exception, back into his fold. The word whosoever in the very popular John 3.16 verse throws the invitation to everyone. When Christ came, he came for all. He was made the Messiah for all men. He came for a Jew like Nicodemus and also for a Samaritan like the woman at Jacob's well. He came for men, he came for women, and he came for children. He came for the highly esteemed and he also came for the very lonely in society. His life and earthly ministry was shared with all kinds of people. Take a look at the theme of his inner core of disciples, for example. Every character and type of person was found in there. Beloved, this theme is even more amplified in the Easter story as we pay attention to the events on the cross. Who would have considered to embrace that thief by the side of Jesus? Already condemned and sentenced in the eyes of men. He himself admitted that he was no good and he deserved the punishment of a shameful death. But he was the reason for the coming of the Christ. He was the very reason for his betrayal and suffering. Indeed, Jesus had this particular thief in mind when he accepted the assignment to come and die for all men. Jesus was not going to leave him behind. It was a very touching moment and event when Jesus at the final moment saves this penitent thief on the cross. When Jesus uttered those words, Today you will be with me in paradise. This man automatically became a saint. He was counted worthy of every privilege that came with being in the family of Christ. Beloved, if this opportunity was available for the thief on the cross, it is available today and every day so long as we come and accept the Lord as our Messiah. This indeed is the gospel message of the cross of Christ. And thanks be to God that he died for me, he died for the thief on the cross and he died for you. Hallelujah. God will not leave any one of us behind. Amen. Beloved, our memory with Shab taking from John chapter 3 verse 16. John chapter 3 verse 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Amen. Amen. Let's share a word of prayer. Our dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for your sacrifice on the cross. We thank you that you have not left any of us behind. We are who we are because you first loved us. And we pray that you help us to stay continuously connected to you. In Jesus name. Amen. God bless you so much beloved for being a part of our morning glory devotion this morning. We want to stay connected throughout the day on Radio HCI today and you'll be blessed. Connect with us same time tomorrow at exactly 6 o'clock for our prayer start up at 6.30 for another episode of our morning glory devotion. God bless you. Have a blessed Easter season. Amen.