Grace for Today

And he said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:43

I have a devotional book written by Max Lucado. I have read it multiple times. The book contains many valuable lessons and many things to ponder and pray about. I truly enjoyed the one for today and it set many thoughts in motion. I would like to share it with you.

Tell me, what has (the thief on the cross) done to warrant help? He has wasted his life. Who is he to beg for forgiveness? He publicly scoffed at Jesus. What right does he have to pray…, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom”? (Grace for the Moment)

The thief had every right. Jesus died for all because all have sinned. Yes, you are in that group too. We need to look at this picture as if it was us on the cross instead of the thief. Our sin is just as great. We have done nothing to warrant eternal life in Heaven. We deserve to die. We are hopeless, helpless and in need of a savior. We come to Him in repentance and not one thing to boast about. Any sacrifice we might make or will make pales in comparison to the cross. But when we pray we hear it! God’s voice providing grace for our life and even our circumstances.

Merriam-Webster tells us that grace is a virtue coming only from God, a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance. Wikipedia adds, grace has been defined, not as a created substance of any kind, but as "the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not necessarily because of anything we have done to earn it.”

No, we can’t earn it and no we don’t deserve it but have you enjoyed it? Have you heard the voice of grace extended? Sure, times are tough. Life knocks us down and the devil would like us to stay down. He would like for us to believe it is too late, we are not worthy and God is too busy. But guess what, it is not too late until you take your last breath and none of us are worthy only through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Seek grace today.

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Pastor Julia Scott