How Are You?

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. I felt and then I titled today's encouragement. How are you Charlie was dying and she knew it while she was lying on her hospital room bed. Her surgeon and a group of young interns poured into the room for the next several minutes. The doctor ignored Charla as he described her terminal condition to the entrance finally turned to her and asked and how are you, Charla weakly smiled and warmly told the group about her hope and peace in Jesus. Some 2000 years ago. Jesus battered naked body hung in humiliation on the cross before a crowd of onlookers.

We lash out at his tormentors. No, Jesus said, father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing the falsely convicted and crucified.

He prayed for his enemies. Later he told another humiliated man criminal that because of the man's faith he would soon be with him in paradise and his pain and shame Jesus chose to share words of hope in life out of love for others.

Charla concluded sharing Christ with her listeners. She posed the question back to the doctor. She tenderly looked into his tear filled eyes and asked, and how are you by Christ's grace and power she had shared words of life showing love and concern for him and others in the room and whatever trying situation we face today in the days ahead. Let's trust God to provide courage to lovingly speak words of life. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from Luke chapter 23 versus 3243, two other men.

Both criminals were also led out with him to be executed when they came to the place called the skull that crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.

Jesus said, father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing and they divided up his clothes by casting lots of people stood watching in the rulers even sneered at him. They said he saved others, let him save himself if he is God's Messiah, the chosen one. The soldiers also came up and mocked him, they offered him wine vinegar and said if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. There was a written notice above him, which read. This is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung their hurled insults at him, aren't you the Messiah, save yourself and us. But the other criminal rebuked him, don't you fear God, he said, since you are under the same sentence we are punished justly if we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.

Let's pray Jesus we praise you for your example of grace and humility. Please help us reflect those things in our words, even as we speak to those who may not be caring or kind in your name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries