04/05/2026
Devotional: The Cross Reaction
Scripture: Luke 23:39–43 (NLT)
Two men hung beside Jesus.
Same moment.
Same pain.
Same Savior.
But two completely different responses.
One rejected Him.
One received Him.
We live in a world full of reactions likes, comments, opinions. Most of them fade quickly. But there is one response that lasts forever:
Your response to Jesus.
The first criminal mocked Jesus. Even in his final moments, his heart was hard. He followed the crowd instead of truth.
The second criminal did something simple but powerful.
He admitted, “I was wrong.”
And then he asked, “Jesus, remember me.”
That’s all it took.
No perfect life.
No long prayer.
Just honesty and faith.
And Jesus responded, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
As Charles Stanley often taught, salvation is not about what you do for God, but what you receive from Him.
Here’s the truth:
We’ve all missed the mark.
We can’t fix ourselves.
Sin drains and suffocates us.
But Jesus offers something new:
Grace.
Forgiveness.
A new beginning.
So today, the question is simple:
What is your reaction to the Cross?
Not tomorrow.
Not someday.
Today.
Prayer:
Jesus,
I know I need You.
Forgive me for my sin.
I receive Your grace today.
Make me new.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
