It's never too late

'Good Friday' always seems a strange way to refer to Jesus' death. The 'good' part is what Jesus dying on a cross achieves - that absolutely anybody can stand before the Father God and be declared righteous with the God-gifted rights of the innocent Son who gave his life for us.

Let's look at the criminal on the next cross over from Jesus. What better demonstration of God's grace than a criminal being told he'd be with Jesus forever! No action required. Not even a weeping confession. Just: recognition of who Jesus was, and one request: 'Remember me' (see Luke 23:42). The criminal was, literally, at the end of his life. He'd made some unwise decisions and was feeling hopeless... until he saw Jesus and could say, 'Remember me'.

Today we may feel like that guy on the cross, all hope gone and feeling like we deserve punishment of some sort. Let's turn our head to one side, look at Jesus taking everything we deserve and offering us Paradise. And let's just know that he remembers us. Or we may know someone who seems 'too far gone' to be saved. It is never too late, for us or the person we're praying for. Keep praying. There's time to see God move.



So what now? Take time out today to read the Gospel story of Jesus' crucifixion (John 17-19). If you can, be doing it over 3pm. Go somewhere quiet and allow the scene to unfold in your mind. Write down what you think and feel, then talk to Father God about it.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Today you will be with me in Paradise.' Luke 23:43 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

Gen 22:1-18, Luke 23:26-49, Isa 53, Ps 22