Change of Plans

When I was nine months old, my parents decided to send me to Puerto Rico with my aunt who had come to visit us in Lima, Peru. My father directed Church of God education at the national level there and served as president of the Gamaliel Institute. On the day we were scheduled to leave, my parents decided at the last minute it would be best for us to stay another week. Several hours after we were supposed to leave for Puerto Rico, a student came running to the house. She told us that the plane we were going to travel on had crashed and everyone aboard had died. God intervened and changed my parents' decision at the last minute, which ended up saving our lives.

Recently I was reminded of a hymn my husband and I used to sing: “I saw the cross that spoke to me of love and reconciliation.” Remembering the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior brings back many memories of time with family. As the daughter of missionaries, every year during Holy Week, we traveled to different places, countries, and churches. One of the longest services of the year was about the “Seven Expressions” of Jesus on the cross, and it lasted all day. The part that always stood out to me was the attitude of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus. One of them mocked Jesus and spoke to Him with disrespect (Luke 23:28-34). His words caused the other thief to think about his own situation and the punishment he was facing. Because of this, he rebuked him.

You see, the other thief realized that Jesus was hanging beside him through no fault of His own. He didn’t deserve a cruel death on a cross. The thief saw Jesus humiliated and treated like a criminal. Jesus, His body badly broken, had been in the same prison and suffered the same abuse and cruelty as the criminals even though He was an innocent man. I imagine he heard Jesus in His pain and felt a connection with Him. Even then, Jesus didn’t defend Himself or complain about what He was going through. The thief understood that Jesus had only shown love and compassion to others and did not deserve to die on the cross.

At the same time, the thief admitted that his own punishment was deserved. He recognized that he earned the punishment he was subjected to. From his cross, he told the other thief to stop mocking Jesus and think about the punishment he was receiving, and then he made a special request to Jesus. The Son of God is always willing to listen to us, no matter the time or place. The thief asked a question that would change his eternity, and Jesus answered him: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” In that moment, the future of the repentant thief changed completely; it was a change of plans at the last minute.

The thief openly confessed his sin and asked for redemption. He received forgiveness that continues to model for us today how great God’s mercy is. Even during suffering, God still listens, answers, and rewards (Luke 23:43). I can imagine the deep peace the thief must have felt when he heard those powerful words of forgiveness from Jesus.

Many times, we feel like that thief. The mistakes and sins we have committed have consequences that affect our lives. Even though I was born into a Christian missionary home, I also had those moments when I had to stop and reflect, especially when people spoke negatively or whispered lies about us or our ministry. During almost four decades of Christian ministry, we have experienced many challenges, including times of need, false accusations, mockery, disrespect, and criticism that came from jealousy because of the work of Christ. But through it all, God was with us, giving us constant love and peace. I had to remember that Christ is the answer in our most difficult situations and that He can turn things around for good. The Word of God promises this for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The bad intentions, hurtful words, and attempts to stop God’s plan in our lives have been turned by the Holy Spirit into blessings, anointing, and redemption.

Today I pray that as you read this devotional you will know that there is always hope in God. Our reward comes from the Lord. He is the Almighty Creator, Sovereign and Redeemer. God’s peace goes beyond human understanding and remains with us, even when things seem very difficult.

Rev. Odaris R. De Jesus

First Lady New England Hispanic Region

Odaris De Jesus was born on the mission field in Lima, Peru to her parents, Roberto and Sara Rodriguez. She began teaching Bible classes to young children at the age of twelve. She studied finance at the University of Puerto Rico, Carolina Campus, and earned a BA in Christian Education at the Theological University of the Caribbean (formerly named Pentecostal Bible College of the Church of God). On December 15, 1990, she married Enrique A. De Jesús and they have four sons, a daughter, two daughters-in-law, and 3 beautiful granddaughters.

She obtained her first level of credentials with the Church of God Cleveland, Tennessee) in February 1997. In 1999 she was credential as an ordained minister. Alongside her husband, she has faithfully served in various local, district, and national leadership positions and she continues to impact those she ministers to.

Odaris and Enrique pastored in Madrid, Spain, Antioch, California, and Cleveland. Tennessee.

They ministered as leaders in Puerto Rico in children’s ministry and were later appointed career missionaries to Spain and Southern Europe from August 1998 until August 2009

Currently, Odaris is serving as director of regional women's ministries for the New England Hispanic Region, where her husband serves as administrative bishop.

She loves to serve, testify, and share the Gospel with those who are lost.