GLEANINGS FROM THE SCRIPTURES Reflecting On Final Words By Keith L. Estes I was the last person to see the aged mother alive at the hospital. We spoke to each other and had prayer together. She died shortly after my visit. That evening I received a call from her son. He was anxious to know what her last words were. I was able to relate to him the conversation we had. They were words that he would always treasure. We have a fascination with the final words of the dying. With Jesus' last words we are not disappointed. Resounding through the ages in the Word of God, they stand perfect and complete as we focus on those words; we look for a window to eternity, and in the process find a spotlight on our own soul. "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO." Lk.23: 34 Lord, I hold on to a grudge like it was a treasure, but it rots my soul. Help me to let go of what I can't control and learn to forgive. "AND JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, VERILY I SAY UNTO THEE, TO DAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE." Lk 23:43 Like the thief to whom You promised eternal life, I believe in Your ability to save me. Help my unbelief. "HE SAITH UNTO HIS MOTHER, WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON! THEN SAITH HE TO THE DISCIPLE, BEHOLD THY MOTHER!" John 19:26-27 When I hurt, I think only of myself. Give me an unselfish heart to see and care for others who are hurting. "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?" Matthew 27:46 It was for me that You were forsaken. Help me to let go of the unanswered "whys?" in my life and to find peace in knowing that You are my God. "I THIRST." John 19:28 Give me an unquenchable thirst to know You, my Lord. "IT IS FINISHED." John 19:30 I can never add to what you have done for me. My salvation is complete. Help me to know the joy of Your grace as I serve You. "FATHER, INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT." Luke 23:46 I want to surrender everything in my life to You. Teach me what that means for each new day, and give me the will to do what I know I need to do. A. W. Tozer wrote: "To go along with Christ step by step and point by point in identical suffering of Roman crucifixion is not possible for any of us, and certainly is not intended by our Lord. "An earnest Christian woman long ago sought help from Henry Suso concerning her spiritual life. She had been imposing austerities upon herself in an effort to feel the sufferings that Christ had felt on the cross. Things were not going so well with her and Suso knew why. "The old saint wrote his spiritual daughter and reminded her that our Lord had not said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up MY cross." He had said, "Let him...take up his cross." There is a difference of only one small pronoun; but that difference is vast and important." Reference- The Holy Bible- The Cross You Bear-Is Yours Not Christ's, by A.W Tozer. Return to Home Page Return to Current Edition Contact us