Today

Today

Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

HOW MUCH TIME do you spend truly living in the present? A study in Science found that people spent almost 47 percent of their waking hours thinking about what wasn’t going on, something researchers call “wandering.”^a Our brains wander into the past, into what may happen in the future, and even into what may never happen at all. Yet people in the study reported that brain wandering generally made them feel unhappy. How, then, can we stay firmly focused on today?

Luke 23 powerfully demonstrates just how important today is in the scheme of our lives. The narrative begins by telling us of Jesus’ trial before Pilate, his sentencing, and ultimately his crucifixion. As Jesus is nailed to the cross, a criminal is placed on each side of him. While one prisoner mocks and scoffs at Jesus, the other protests.

“We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man has done nothing wrong,” he says. He then turns to Jesus and asks him to remember him in his Kingdom (see Luke 23:41-42).

Jesus, in his response, reveals both the power of a single day and his kindness: “Today,” he says, “you’ll be with me in paradise.” What a powerful testament to both the immediacy and the far-reaching nature of forgiveness. Jesus didn’t waste a breath or take the time to berate the man, remind him of how great his sins were, or leave him unsure of whether or not he was truly forgiven. Instead, his sins were immediately wiped clean, the promise of paradise guaranteed.

We, too, can access immediate forgiveness—today. Too often I find that I am berating myself for an action or for something I’ve said, even after I’ve asked God to forgive me. Yet Jesus doesn’t do that—instead, if we humbly confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us. He does not hold our sins over our head, making us wait until some future time before reluctantly pardoning us. He does not keep a record of all our past wrongs to use as ammunition against us later on. No, his forgiveness is all-encompassing. What a gracious God! Let’s focus on living today with him.

Lord, thank you for today. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: What words or actions have you failed to forgive yourself for? Spend time considering how Jesus is ready to forgive you today. There’s no need to wait.