The good thief can be described as spiritually fallen. He believes in God. He knows he has messed up in the worst sort of way, and he hopes against hope that God might give him another chance. Jesus encounters him with grace beyond our wildest imagining. Just like in the life of the good thief, sometimes the consequences of our misguided actions cannot be undone, however, God may still be full of far more grace than we could ever ask for or imagine. Our job in conversations with the spiritual fallen is to listen to the depth of their story with compassion rather than condemnation, and then to invite them to consider the amazing grace of God – a grace that does not overlook our sin but rather redeems the willing in spite of our sin through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Scripture - Luke 23:39-43