Remember me

This is a piece written by Rev. Benny Still, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Grand Bay, AL and a dear friend.

"When one of the thieves being crucified with Jesus acknowledged Him as the Son of God and Savior of all Mankind, he asked Jesus to REMEMBER him when He came into His kingdom. Jesus told him, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise!" (Luke 23:42-43)

In studying the ancient cultures of the day...and doing some background work on the word "REMEMBER," we discover that actually its connotation is the opposite of the word "DISMEMBER".

Here in the South, when something upsets us or frustrates us, often you'll hear us say, "that just tears me up!" When we are all torn up over something, we need time to somehow get ourselves back together. We back up and regroup and try to analyze the situation(s) and deal with our problem and "pull ourselves together!"

I've read that one of the punishments used for crimes committed in ancient times and in medieval times often involved the perpetrator being drawn and quartered--DISMEMBERED!!! Physically torn apart...torn to pieces resulting in their horribly painful deaths!

So, apparently the thief on the cross who trusted Jesus on that "Good Friday" so long ago knew that his life, for all practical purposes, was just about over...and that he had lived a life that resulted in the dismemberment of all that he held dear. For him to ask Jesus to "REMEMBER" him...tells me that he realized that Jesus could put him back together...wherever the pieces had been scattered...whatever the problems that had dismembered his spirit...he could totally rely on Jesus.

Some of you reading this may have lost limbs, appendages (fingers/toes/ears) etc. and you know of the phantom pain that such loss brings. Some of you have lost family members, seen children and grandchildren and spouses go astray. You understand personally what it feels like to have your soul/spirit/heart to be torn asunder...DISMEMBERED...if you will!!! May I suggest to you today as we get ready to celebrate the resurrection of our Master from the grave this Sunday morning...on Easter...that we ask Him to REMEMBER us too?

The late Dottie Rambo wrote, "Pick up the broken pieces and bring them to the Lord...He will put them back together and make your life complete...Just bring the broken pieces to the Savior's feet!!!!" What a joy to know that when we are "dis-membered" He is ready and willing to RE-member us and make our lives complete!!!

Happy Easter...and be sure and attend the Christian Church of your choice this weekend!