That One

That Girl

 And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24 (NIV)

Thug. Gangster. Thief. Miscreant.

Hopeless. Lost. Broken. Forgotten.

At fifteen years old she ended up in prison. Rough. Tough. Mean. Alpha.

Something happened inside those walls. A ministry showed up. Shared the gospel with her. Taught her another way of life. And she gave her life to the Lord.

No one believed there was any hope. She remained a lost cause. But God. He had plans for that girl.

That Boy

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19 (NIV)

He always picked fights and bullied others. Never stayed focused or participated. Instigator. Smart aleck. Aggressive. Apathetic.

Something happened when he attended church camp. Words finally hit his heart. Worship made sense. Conviction came in a real way. And this young man gave his life to the Lord.

God had plans for that boy.

That Woman

So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” John 4:3-7 (NIV)

Alone at the well in the middle of the day. Hiding from others who knew the truth. Outcast. Immoral. Shunned. Alone.

Jesus spoke to this Samaritan woman and told her all the things no person could ever know. He shared about the Living Water and her need to be filled with it.

Something happened that day at the well. Redemptive mercy flowed. Hope permeated hearts. Many lives were ultimately changed. And she surrendered to the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ.

God had plans for that woman.

That Man

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43 (NIV)

Hanging on a cross in the heat of the day. Openly known as a lawbreaker. Rebel. Criminal. Lost. Hopeless.

Jesus hung beside this man on his own cross. This criminal knew Jesus was innocent of all his charges and defended him.

Something happened hanging there on that cross. Truths were spoken. A criminal admitted his guilt. His repentant heart was exposed. And Jesus told the man that he would be with Jesus that very day in Paradise.

God had plans for that man.

Plans for Us

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:22-26 (NIV)

God has a plan for each of us. We will never go too far for his grace. Never sin beyond his grasp. And never be marked as a hopeless cause.

Jesus Christ gave his life so that we wouldn’t have to die. He took our place. So we could live in freedom.

He loves us more than we can comprehend. And he will never love us any more or any less than he already does. We do not have to try to earn his love. He freely gives it.

There are no lost causes.

No person too hopeless.

Or a life beyond redemption.

God has plans for us. For you. For me. And even for that one.

 

(For more lessons, read God’s a Good Father Who Works for Our Good – Inspire A Fire)

© Christy Bass Adams, June 2025

All Images from Canva