After this Lenten season and Easter week, I have been thinking a lot about the story of the thieves who were crucified next to Jesus the day He sacrificed His life for us.

Both reviled Jesus in the same way, however as the hours passed, in the last moment, one thief realized Jesus was God’s Son. He was the only way. Luke records this in Luke 23:39-43. “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘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.’”

The thief. This man he had just mocked, now extended love and grace. He took this gift of grace in the last moment, the last moment he possibly could. Jesus extended to him new life. He was no longer condemned. Grace – all Jesus wants us to do is accept His gift of grace – whether a lifetime filled with God’s grace or just in the last moment – the right moment – the acceptance is what matters.

Maybe God showed us this moment, this last moment acceptance of God’s grace to help us see that the key is truly accepting it regardless of when, but the actual doing of it. He extends His grace to all as long as they have their eyes open to see it, whether this is acceptance of the gift of salvation, or the grace needed for each moment. He always extends His grace. Paul reminds us of this in 2 Corinthians 12:9a when he says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” Whatever we face, He always undergirds us with His grace.

Grace. I need to extend this same grace to others. Life is not easy, and we are not always aware of what another is facing. We are responsible for how we respond to others, regardless of how they are to us. Jesus did not respond to this thief with hate or rejection based on how the thief first was toward Him. He immediately extended to the thief His saving grace, and this led to a changed life. We may not know what the grace we extend will do in the life of another, but we do know that grace we extend comes from Him. Others see Him through what we do. So, as I see others through Jesus’ eyes, my prayer is, how can I extend His grace to them today? Who can you extend grace to today? Grace for each moment.

In His Love,

Susan