One-minute read.
Divine forgiveness.
God freely forgives, regardless of the sin. Understanding the Lord’s grace challenges me. From a human perspective, we often rank people’s misdeeds. Murdering someone seems unforgivable, but telling a white lie doesn’t. Cheating on one’s spouse versus cheating on taxes or stealing millions of dollars versus stealing a piece of candy doesn’t seem like they should receive the same grace, yet they do when people approach the Lord with a repentant heart.
The heart posture determines the grace we receive. The thieves on the cross beside Jesus show the difference. Gesmas ridiculed Christ, not sorry for his actions that nailed him to the wood. But Dismas truly repented, asking for mercy.[i]
“Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43
How we approach the Lord determines the grace we receive. Mocking God got Gesmas nowhere. But when Dismas humbly asked Jesus for mercy, he received it, entering paradise with the King. God doesn’t tell us to judge; He commands us to love. We can’t know a person’s heart; only the Lord sees what we can’t. Actions speak louder than words when God transforms a person’s life with His grace.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving us the grace we don’t deserve. Help us humble ourselves before You, coming to Your throne with repentant hearts. As we enter into Your presence, let us accept the mercy You offer, allowing it to transform our lives and make us new. IJNIP. Amen
[i]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impenitent_thief#:~:text=Christian%20tradition%20holds%20that%20Gestas,contrast%20to%20the%20good%20thief.
