Have you ever experienced God’s unexpected and amazing grace? When I try to visualize and place myself at the scene where Jesus was being tortured towards His execution on the cross. He prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Luke later writes of a surprising encounter. One criminal mocks Jesus, but the other acknowledges his guilt and says to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus responds, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
What unexpected grace!
In the face of excruciating agony, Jesus is still forgiving, still giving life, and welcoming sinners. The repentant criminal couldn’t redo his past, perform good works, but Jesus offered mercy and eternal life!
God’s grace unexpectedly showed up through Jesus on the cross to a worthless, rejected and convicted criminal. Maybe when we least expect or deserve it His grace shows up. Maybe God wasn’t to give unexpected grace through us to those in our lives we think are lower, undeserving sinners.
Where have you experienced the unexpected grace of Jesus in your own life, and who might need that same grace from you today?
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
