When Jesus hung on the cross, suspended between heaven and earth, two criminals were crucified beside Him. One hurled insults and disbelief. The other, in a moment of raw humility, whispered the words that would change his eternity:
“Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus, in one of His final declarations before death, offered a reply full of stunning grace:
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”
(Luke 23:42–43, NIV)
This short exchange reveals the very heart of the gospel: salvation is not earned—it is received. Not by works. Not by religion. Not by reputation. It is all by grace.
1. No Resume Required
Imagine that thief—guilty, exposed, and moments from death. He had no time to turn his life around. No opportunity to give back what he’d stolen. No chance to “make it right.” Yet in one sentence of faith, he secured eternity with Jesus.
Jesus didn’t pause and ask, “What have you done with your life?” He didn’t say, “You need to prove your worth.” No. He responded with immediate acceptance.
This tells us something powerful: God’s grace overrides our guilt. Jesus sees past our failures and speaks directly to our faith.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
(Ephesians 2:8, NIV)
2. Your Past Doesn’t Disqualify You
We live in a culture obsessed with credentials and clean records. But God doesn’t work like that. He doesn’t consult your past to determine your future. He doesn’t define you by your worst day. He defines you by His mercy.
That thief had likely been written off by society. Yet Jesus offered him paradise. Why? Because he believed.
If you think you’ve messed up too much to be used by God, remember this: the first person to enter heaven after Jesus’ death wasn’t a priest, prophet, or religious leader. It was a thief—saved in the last moments of his life by grace.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)
3. God Saves at the Worst Moment
Jesus didn’t rescue the thief when he was cleaned up, strong, and full of promise. He saved him when he was broken, nailed to a cross, and at the end of his rope. That’s when grace shines the brightest—in our darkest moments.
You may feel unworthy. Maybe life has brought you to a low place. But that’s exactly where God’s mercy meets you. The cross reminds us: at your worst, God is still at His best.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8, NIV)
4. You Are Already Chosen
The real tragedy isn’t being far from God—it’s being chosen and never recognizing it. You were created with purpose. There are seeds of greatness inside of you, and grace is the soil where those seeds bloom.
Don’t spend your life thinking you’re not good enough. Don’t wait to clean yourself up before you come to God. Come just as you are. Because grace doesn’t wait for perfection. It reaches into the pit and pulls us into purpose.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit.”
(John 15:16, NIV)
5. Living in the Gift
Grace is not a reward for effort. It’s a gift for the believing heart. Once you receive it, everything changes. You can rest in who God made you to be. You can stop striving for approval and start walking in freedom.
So today, stop measuring yourself by your mistakes. Start measuring by God’s mercy. He sees your heart. He hears your humble whisper. And just like that thief, when you turn to Him in faith, paradise is promised. I hope this speaks to you, and I pray you have a blessed day!
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I don’t have to earn Your love or approval. Thank You that through Jesus, I’m already accepted, already chosen, already loved. I receive Your grace today. Help me to walk boldly in my purpose, knowing that I’m never too far for Your reach. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement 
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