" And once more He bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before Him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go and from now on sin no more."
John 8:8-11
Friends, this story in the Bible is about the love, mercy and forgiveness that Jesus bestowed on a woman who was caught in the act of adultery.
In those days if a woman was caught in the act of adultery...she was brought out before the people and stoned to death.
For those of you who don't know...to be stoned means that you were struck with rocks, bricks or anything that the people could throw at you to in order to kill you. Can you imagine?
This woman was brought before Jesus in the midst of her sin and shame.Eminent death was a rocks throw away.
Laying on the ground in a broken state and in utter defeat, this woman must have felt like so many of us feel when we have fallen in to sin.
Have you been there????
Are you there now????
Do you feel so ashamed at where you are at, and fearful that although the Lord is right in front of you...He is too Holy to forgive the sins that you have committed????
Oh sweet friends I want to encourage you!
No matter where you have been or what you have done...He will not leave your side!
He did not leave this woman when she was being condemned by her peers....
He did not judge her or make her feel ashamed...
Instead, He stood before the crowd and became her mighty Defender!
He looked at her, with grace and mercy in His eyes and comforted her with a reminder that He did not condemn her!
My friends you might not be caught in adultery.
It might be a completely different sin or stronghold that is causing you to be ashamed of going to the Lord.
Maybe its pornagraphy...and you feel too ashamed to go to someone for help.
Maybe its an alchol problem that is really causing you to make poor decisions.
Maybe you are going too far physically in a relationship, but again you are too afraid of telling anyone.
Maybe its struggling with lustful thoughts and desires.
Maybe its anger and hatred in your heart towards people that you can't let go of.
Oh dear friends, I wish that I was sitting with you and could shed tears and hug you as I try to explain that the mercy Jesus extends to you is great!
Nothing you have done...can seperate you from Him! He longs for you to come to Him broken, ashamed, and in need of Him!
He wants to come to your aid and show you that His love and mercy are rich and never ending!
I cry as I write this because I have experienced His mercy in my life so many times. I am a broken sinner who was and always is in need of a Savior that washes me clean and new every day.
I do not deserve His mercy, but I am overwhelmingly thankful that He gave it to me!
I know that some of you might think that you are are too unworthy because of where you have been and what you have done...but NOTHING is greater than HIS LOVE!
Maybe you don't think you are strong enough to get our from under your sin.
My friends, the enemy that you are fighting against has been defeated!
He came and He died for your sins! He has ransomed us from all that we face and will face in the days to come!
Remember, when you call to Him and ask Him to help you, He assumes the responsibility to deliver you!
Today, I pray that you would remember no matter what you have done, He is standing before you, ready to forgive you and draw a line in the sand that will set you free!
Oh friends how He loves you and me!!!!!
Amazing love...and amazing Grace!
John 4! Read it as a follow up. :) He comes to us first and wants us to reach out to Him. It supports your thoughts but is another story of Hope. I pray it helps you.
ReplyDelete