But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. Eph 2:4-6
Observing the enraged crowd, he felt his eyes roll back and his lips twitch, longing for water. Despite weakening, he understood the merciless stance of the crowd towards the man in the middle. Even the man on the other side, sharing the same fate, joined in and mocked the man in the middle. Struggling to hold on, he cast a sideways glance at the man in the middle.
He pondered how different the man seemed and questioned what could have led him to this point. The crowd persisted in jeering, laughing, mocking, and hurling insults. Seizing my final opportunity, I uttered, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom,” to which he responded, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).
The tale of the thief on the cross seems to defy norms—it is a salvation story against all odds. With no mention of sanctification or baptism, he obtained complete salvation solely by grace. Despite a life of deceit and theft, he received the extraordinary gift of eternal life from Jesus, a “divine exception” showcasing God’s abundant mercy. In this era of unusual and remarkable salvation stories, persist in praying for more souls to embrace salvation.
Do you have someone in mind? A family member you are entrusting to God’s grace? Believe in a bountiful harvest of their souls. Though the exact time and manner of divine intervention may be unknown, maintain unwavering faith and persistent prayer. Those you are interceding for will encounter transformative divine moments. Do not lose confidence; continue holding on, and the fruits of your prayers will manifest soon.
Prayers
1. O Lord open the eyes of (mention the person) to his/her spiritual condition in the name of Jesus.
2. Father, let spiritual blindness be erased from the life of (mention the person) in the name of Jesus.
3. Lord, send people across the path of (mention the person) who can share the gospel with him/her in Jesus name.
4. Father, grant (mention the person) repentance leading to a personal relationship with Jesus in Jesus name.
5. Holy spirit, let (mention the person) come from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, in Jesus name.
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15