Grace

Luke 23: 42-43
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It was the fear of death, the unknown, the uncertainty that perhaps lead this guy to ask Jesus. It's one of those interesting passages for me. I lived for years, scared of hell, of death.

Worse yet, of failure. Of mediocrity. I feared being unworthy.

This guy was unworthy. He was already crucified, along side Jesus, for crimes he actually did. Moments before he was mocking him. He was already on his way out of his sinful life. It almost seems like he was hedging his bets... Instead of a loving life for God, where he sought out God's will, and then coming to face Jesus... It was a moment of fear, of desperation.

Yet Jesus accepts him. This criminal was the first... To enter Jesus' kingdom. As I think back on my life... I don't see myself as someone worthy of God's grace. I've broken most of the commandments one way or another. I've lived a selfish life. Yet, in the moment I was at my lowest, Jesus accepted me.

That is grace.

I Live!

Life! Christ gives us life because He's alive. He, through His death, paid the price of sins.

And because of His Resurrection- He now is able to offer us life. Not just more days of of this dreary earthly life... But the type of life we all look for. The life in which we walk with God, despite all the pain and suffering of this world.

We can live with joy even though we have loss. We can live free, even though our lives can be full of chains.

God gave us His Son to be our innocence. I once mourned my innocence, my failed attempts at the Godly life... I mourned my father's death. I mourned my dreams. My Friends and lost loves. So many things I miss.

But today- again- God reminded me that He's the one who takes on my Obligation... By his Blood. :-) and then He asks me to have a relationship with Him.

Today Christ reminds me He's Risen. So... Let me remind you! Christ is Risen!