A Tale of Three Crosses

The Bible mentions three men dying on crosses and they all have a story tell.

Cross #1—a thief DYING IN SIN. “And one of the criminals who hanged there was hurling abuse at Him saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save yourself and us” (Luke 24:39). This thief called out to be saved, but he wasn’t sorry for his sins. He wanted to be saved from punishment for his crimes but his heart had not changed. This man died IN his sins.

This man represents those who want to be saved from punishment but don’t want to be saved from their sins. Jesus told the Pharisees (who rejected Him), “I go away, and you shall seek Me, and shall die IN your sin; where I am going you cannot come” (John 8:21) Jesus said that dying in your sins keeps you from going where He was going, which was Heaven.

Cross #2—a thief DYING TO SIN. The second thief said, “We are receiving what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong…Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 24:41-43). This thief was sorry for his sins and wanted Jesus to save his soul. This thief represents those who see Jesus dying for their sins, have a change of heart and are willing to die to their sinful ways.

Cross #3—a Savior DYING FOR SIN. Jesus went to the cross for one purpose—the die for the sins of the world. Isaiah 53:6 says, “The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). That means salvation from sin is only found in Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:21 says, “He will save His people from their sins.”

Both thieves called out to be saved but only one was saved. What was the difference? The first thief wasn’t sincere and had no change of heart. If Jesus had set him free, he would have returned to his life of crime. The second thief wanted to be saved from his sins. If Jesus had set him free, he would have turned from his sinful life and would have followed Him. Which one of these thieves represents you? www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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NEW VIDEO TEACHING (10 minutes): "7 Signs of the End-Times"  Four signs have come to pass, but 3 other signs might be a while before being fulfilled.

Read 200 free BIBLE STUDIES at www.makinglifecount.net 

Looking for a good book to study in a SMALL GROUP? Slaying Your Giants is filled with interesting stories and Biblical insights, and includes a free 20-Lesson Discussion Guide in the back of the book.

The Sure Cure for Worry proves that GOD IS IN CONTROL and you can trust Him to take care of the problem that worries you.

The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees

A businessman’s office wall was covered with award plaques and framed documents. On the wall was a diploma from the Harvard Business School, a “National Salesman of the Year” award, and a letter from the President of the United States. A visitor was impressed by his honors and asked, “How did you manage to accomplish so much in such a short time?” “It really wasn’t that hard,” the man replied. “I have a sign-printing business.”

Hypocrisy is trying to impress others by pretending to be something that we’re not. Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites 14 times in the book of Matthew alone. They performed their religious duties “to be seen” by men (Matt. 6:1). “To be seen” in Greek is theathemai, which is where we get our word “theater.” Jesus was saying that a hypocrite is an actor who plays a role. The actors on the Greek stage performed in the theater to be seen by an audience. Their reward for their performance was the applause they received from the spectators.

The hypocritical Pharisees were merely religious actors, playing the role of a righteous person in the “theater” of street corners, synagogues, and the temple. They longed for the praise of men, which was the reason they performed so many righteous deeds in public. When they received compliments and applause from their admiring audience, Jesus said, “they have received their reward in full” (Matt. 6:2).

The Pharisees serve as a warning to not become actors, who do the right things but with the wrong motives. We are hypocrites if we say that we believe God’s Word but live in a way that doesn’t line up. The antidote for hypocrisy is to live with a “sincere heart” (Heb. 10:22) and “love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5). The apostle Paul told us there is only one audience we need to please: “For am I seeking the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ” (Gal. 1:10)

Check your heart. Keep doing what’s right, and do it to please God.

Have you read about the strange customs of the Pharisees? Click on Who were the Pharisees? Be sure to read the 26 Questions, which helps to identify Modern-Day Phariseeism.

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net 

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Slaying Your Giants is filled with interesting stories, humor, and practical advice about how to conquer 20 giants (fear, depression, discontentment, self-image, anger, and more)

The Sure Cure for Worry contains amazing true stories and helps the reader see God is in control.

What is Making Life Count Ministries? (3 min. video)

Ignoring the Evidence

Did O.J. Simpson get away with murdering Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman in June 1994? O.J’s blood DNA was found near the victims, on the walkway, at the rear gate, and on Ron Goldman’s boot. His blood was also found on the floor of O.J’s Bronco, along with the steering wheel, driver’s door, and console. O.J.’s defense attorneys accused the police of planting O.J.’s blood at the scene of the crime. That might plant doubt in some people’s minds, but how did Ron and Nicole’s blood get inside O.J.’s car and house?

Nicole’s blood was found in O.J’s Bronco on the steering wheel, console, and carpet. Ron’s blood was also found on the console. Nicole’s blood was found in footprints made by size 12 rare Bruno Magli shoes, which O.J. happened to own and was his shoe size.

At O.J.’s house, his blood was found in the driveway and foyer. O.J.’s blood, Ron and Nicole’s blood, and hairs from both Ron and Nicole were found on the glove in his yard. Both O.J’s and Nicole’s blood were found on a sock in his bedroom. The defense team couldn’t explain how Ron and Nicole’s blood was found in all those places. All this evidence was ignored by the jury, which acquitted him.

Why would someone want to ignore evidence? Primarily because ulterior motives are involved. When Jesus performed healing miracles as the religious Pharisees watched, they refused to believe in Him because they didn't want to lose their political power. They said, “If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:48).

Many people today refuse to believe the evidence that proves the existence of God and the truth of the Bible. They're afraid to examine the evidence of hundreds of fulfilled Bible prophecies and that the amazingly complex human body couldn't have evolved by mere chance. Why won't some people honestly examine the evidence? It's because they "suppress the truth" because their hearts are darkened (Romans 1:18, 21). If you don't want to believe something, it doesn't matter how much evidence is presented. As the saying goes, "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." Take an honest look at the proof and arrive at your own verdict. 

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net 

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NEW BIBLE STUDY: Barabbas and the Scapegoat

VIDEO: What is Making Life Count Ministries? (3 minutes)

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Two books to help you grow in your faith:

Slaying Your Giants is filled with numerous interesting stories, humor, and practical advice about how to conquer 20 giants you will face in life (fear, depression, discontentment, self-image, anger, and more)

The Sure Cure for Worry contains amazing true stories and will help the reader see God is in control. (For those who may doubt the existence of God and those who need guidance)

Are You Really Sorry?

A son in a large family resented his youngest brother. Whenever he thought the "baby" of the family was receiving special treatment, he would whack him on the head. Then, as soon as his younger brother started crying, he'd say, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please don't tell Mom and Dad." This scenario of hitting him and then saying he was sorry went on for several weeks.

One day the older brother walloped him and followed up with his usual insincere apology. "This time I really mean it. Please don't tell Mom and Dad. I'm really, really sorry." The younger brother said, "I just want to know when you're going to be sorry enough to quit!"

Repentance means to have a change of heart, which changes the way you behave. It doesn’t mean to be sorry, but being sorry enough to quit what you’re doing. Second Corinthians 7:10 says, "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death." Regret wishes it could change the consequences of past failures. Repentance wants to change future behavior so that past sins won’t be repeated.

Repentance is making a decision in your heart that you want to please God more than yourself, which changes the way you think, speak, and act. Trying to change your behavior without first changing your heart is getting the cart before the horse. You have the order backward. If you try to change your actions without first having a change of heart, it won’t be long before you return to your old ways.

If you have tried to change but are unable to do it, you must surrender to your Higher Power—the God who has more power than you. Only the Holy Spirit can give you the power to live like Him. When you make that decision in your heart to surrender all to Him, you’ve just repented.

Prayer of Repentance: “Lord, I realize that I’m not living in a way that pleases you. I want my life to change but I don’t have the power within myself to do that. Jesus, I surrender my life to you and I ask you to give me the power to change. Fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for hearing my prayer.”

For a deeper study on repentance, click on this link: What Does It Mean to Repent?

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com 

www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068

Four Secrets to Forgiving Others

THIS WEEK'S DEVOTIONAL is a video teaching 4 Secrets to Forgiving Others 
It's hard to forgive those who have hurt us, but this teaching will help you understand how to do it--and why God will reward you both in this life and the next life if you'll do it.
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Please let others know about Making Life Count Ministries www.makinglifecount.net and www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com 
God bless,
Kent

Defeating Doubt

Watch Kent’s 18-minute Video Teaching  “Erasing Your Doubts” 

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“DEFEATING DOUBT”

Do you ever experience doubts? After Jesus healed a blind man, the Pharisees questioned him about whether or not Jesus was a sinner. He answered, “Whether or not He is a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I see!” (John 9:25) He concentrated on the one fact he knew to be true and not on the question he didn’t know the answer to.

Some people think they cannot believe in God unless they have every question answered. But you don’t need to have every one of your questions answered before you can believe in Him. In a court of law, a jury doesn’t need to have every question answered before it can reach a verdict. The jury is not going to see a video recording of the crime being committed, but they can reach a decision by examining the clues.  

The accused person might claim he was never at the scene of the crime, but if investigators find his DNA there, you can conclude without any doubt that he was there. You might still have questions about how the crime occurred, but the one thing you do know cancels out all your unanswered questions. The jury can reach a decision without any reasonable doubt because of the one fact they know to be true and not because every question has been answered.

The next time you are bewildered, concentrate on what you know to be true. Remember when God answered a prayer or did a miracle for you. Concentrate on the fact that the Bible proves itself to be true through fulfilled Bible prophecies. For more information on turning a double-mind into a single mind, watch the Erasing Your Doubts video.

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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NEW Bible studies from Making Life Count Ministries:

Financial Freedom pt. 1—The God Factor  --  Shows how God can intervene in your situation.

Financial Freedom pt. 2—Getting Out of Debt

The Judgment Seat of Christ – This is not a judgment of our sins, but to reward us for faithful service.

Ten Things That Happen When You are Born Again – 4 lessons for Small Groups to discuss.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support of this discipleship ministry.  Please let others know about Making Life Count Ministries www.makinglifecount.net

Conquering the Giant of Fear

When Moses sent the 12 spies into the Promised Land, they came back reporting there were giants in the land. This scared the people of Israel so much that they spent the next 38 years in the wilderness!

To receive everything that God has promised to you, you must defeat the Giant of Fear.  I’ve attached a link to an 18-minute video of me teaching about the 4 weapons you will need to use.

To watch the video, click on this link: Conquering the Giant of Fear
--Kent
www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com
www.makinglifecount.net
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If you have been blessed by these devotionals and Bible studies, would you please consider a year-end gift to this ministry?

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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support, which makes this ministry possible.