In John 8:1 - 11, a story is told of a REAL LIFE sinner. So real, the story lets us know that there was no room for doubt about the sin nor the guilt of it. No room - because the sinner was "caught in the very act" of the sin. The sin - adultery.
To get the full story - you need to understand a few things.
1 - For whatever reason the men knew that this woman "would". Somehow they knew that they could use her to try to set Jesus up on how He'd deal with this sin & the sinner. Did they know she "would" because she had before? Was she easy? We don't know - but they picked her for some obvious reason. I guess you could say she had a reputation.
2 - The people wanted to set Jesus up - because the LAW said that this sin warranted death as the punishment. The law said both parties should be stoned to death. The trick to this is that Jesus didn't come to break any law. The Bible says that He came to fulfil the law. So, how would Jesus save her life and not break the law?
So, Jesus what do you say about that? What can you offer a full blown sinner?
How will you not break the law and yet not have the guilty destroyed?
Picture it
They have literally dragged this woman from the act to the feet of Jesus. They are standing there - without any question of the guilt nor of the consequence. So, they drag her there each with a stone, or many stones, the size of a man's fist in their hands - ready to begin the killing. Now the story doesn't say - but the man (the other 1/2 of the sin) is most likely in on it and now standing at best in the crowd - at worst with a stone in his hand.
She, cowered in fear, lying on the ground - half dressed and about to die. A pawn with a reputation...
So
Jesus bends down and begins to write in the sand. What He writes we aren't privy to...but write He does. Whatever He writes convicts their hardened hearts.
Then
He says this - "let whoever is without sin - cast the FIRST stone". I.e. Let the one here without any sin begin the stoning party.
The Bible says that rather than killing her - they EACH began to drop their stone (source of inflicting pain) and returned to their home.
Jesus then asked the sinner a question - "where are your accusers - have you NONE?" She - the sinner about to die - the guilty one - answers - "NONE Lord". Jesus replies, "neither do I condemn you...Go and sin no more"...
WOW!
NONE! Why? Do you see it? Jesus somehow leveled the playing field of life. He caused each of them to realize that NONE of them were without SIN of their own! I.e. NONE of them had any right to throw a stone...
Jesus was the PERFECT ONE - He was the one that had the right to throw the first stone. Yet He chose to offer love, forgiveness, a future...
You see when they were made to be honest with themselves - EACH came to realize that NONE of them had a right to do damage to another - let alone destroy anyone.
Think about it - If EACH person just threw ONE stone a piece - it's not any ONE stone that would kill her. It's the CUMULATIVE effect of them all that would take her life.
So, depending on what side you wanted to end up on - each person could conclude either -
* I just threw ONE stone - I didn't kill her
OR
* EACH could intend on their STONE being the ONE. Each could be so enraged that they fully intended on being the ONE that destroyed her.
Either way - once the stone left your their hand - no matter it couldn't be taken back.
THEN
If by any chance the sinner survived (which was legally impossible by the LAW) they would wear the SCARS forever - EACH inflicted by SINNERS just like her.
So what?
So - Jesus teaches us -
We are all sinners...
We tend to "judge" others by our own opinion of sin - subjectively.
Not only are we to NOT destroy a SINNER - we are to do them NO HARM (throw no stones) either.
An old Spanish proverb says it like this "Those who live in GLASS houses shouldn't throw stones".
Jesus said - those without sin should throw the first stone & not one qualified - no one has yet.
So, according to Jesus...NEXT time you see a real sinner - realize (remember?) that sin comes with enough of it's own consequences - you don't need to add any nor should you harm them further. Lastly, no matter how frenzied the MOB - don't get caught up with it all. The person you are about to harm is exactly that - another human being. Only now in great need...
I guess we ALL live in glass houses of some sort and therefore none should be throwing any stones at anyone.
I can't help but wonder - what did they say to her or think the next time they ran into this SINNER? What about her - what were her thoughts or what did she say?
Not one qualified to throw a stone...NONE!
Peace...
Aug 13, 2009
Aug 11, 2009
The Parable of the Feathers
I TAKE IT BACK
Once upon a time a certain man went to the town monk. “Monk,” confesses he, “I have been slandering you to my neighbors. I am truly sorry for what I’ve said and how I’ve treated you. I take back all the bad I have said. How may I find penance?” The monk nods, then sagely proffers this instruction: “Go pluck 3 chickens. Stuff a bag with the feathers, then place one feather on every doorstep where you have slandered me. Return to me when you complete your task.”
Scurrying away, the villager meticulously complies. He returns to the monk the next day.
“Monk,” smiles he, “I have completed your instruction. What should I do now?” “Now?” “Now,” intones the monk, “go collect back every feather.” “But, but,” splutters the villager, “this task is impossible, it has been an entire night the wind has blown the feathers in all directions.” The monk nods in agreement, turns, and walks away.
The moral? Words are important. The Bible says that our words contain either life or death! Once words leaves your lips, you can’t take them back and you cannot control where they go from there. Wherever they go - they are bringing either life or death to a person or situation. When you accuse a person of something, or "spread a rumor", whether it's grounded in truth or not, everyone who hears your comment will form an opinion about that person based on your words. What if your words are wrong or biased and slanted or not complete? Another problem with rumors is that there is an assumption on the part of both the basher and the listener that the words being spoken are right. What if you are wrong?
The worth, character, integrity, value and veracity and the future of a person cannot be judged based on his or her mistakes or failings alone. Isn't that what Christ came to resolve? A person is the sum total of all his/her failings and triumphs and achievements, bad decisions and good, wise ones, etc. It is easy to try and destroy a person’s reputation, but much more difficult to help restore it. If they have done enough damage to themselves already - why hurt them further?
Just a thought...
By the way - I shared this parable years ago regarding the power of our words/rumors. It's been on my mind a lot lately - so I thought I'd share it. The Bible is very specific about us wounding one another...about things we say...about things we even think about...
This is really about how you treat each and every person in your life. If you know of someone in your life-circle that's down - at the very least - do them no more harm. Because, as hard as it may be to believe - each of us will be down at some time in our life...each and every one of us!
Peace.
Check out my new site - Journey
Once upon a time a certain man went to the town monk. “Monk,” confesses he, “I have been slandering you to my neighbors. I am truly sorry for what I’ve said and how I’ve treated you. I take back all the bad I have said. How may I find penance?” The monk nods, then sagely proffers this instruction: “Go pluck 3 chickens. Stuff a bag with the feathers, then place one feather on every doorstep where you have slandered me. Return to me when you complete your task.”
Scurrying away, the villager meticulously complies. He returns to the monk the next day.
“Monk,” smiles he, “I have completed your instruction. What should I do now?” “Now?” “Now,” intones the monk, “go collect back every feather.” “But, but,” splutters the villager, “this task is impossible, it has been an entire night the wind has blown the feathers in all directions.” The monk nods in agreement, turns, and walks away.
The moral? Words are important. The Bible says that our words contain either life or death! Once words leaves your lips, you can’t take them back and you cannot control where they go from there. Wherever they go - they are bringing either life or death to a person or situation. When you accuse a person of something, or "spread a rumor", whether it's grounded in truth or not, everyone who hears your comment will form an opinion about that person based on your words. What if your words are wrong or biased and slanted or not complete? Another problem with rumors is that there is an assumption on the part of both the basher and the listener that the words being spoken are right. What if you are wrong?
The worth, character, integrity, value and veracity and the future of a person cannot be judged based on his or her mistakes or failings alone. Isn't that what Christ came to resolve? A person is the sum total of all his/her failings and triumphs and achievements, bad decisions and good, wise ones, etc. It is easy to try and destroy a person’s reputation, but much more difficult to help restore it. If they have done enough damage to themselves already - why hurt them further?
Just a thought...
By the way - I shared this parable years ago regarding the power of our words/rumors. It's been on my mind a lot lately - so I thought I'd share it. The Bible is very specific about us wounding one another...about things we say...about things we even think about...
This is really about how you treat each and every person in your life. If you know of someone in your life-circle that's down - at the very least - do them no more harm. Because, as hard as it may be to believe - each of us will be down at some time in our life...each and every one of us!
Peace.
Check out my new site - Journey
Jul 8, 2009
Redeemer & Redemption
Nothing real crazy to write...but I wanted to share a thought I'm sifting through & that is - the words "Redeemer (only found in the OT - which surprised me) & Redemption".
The words deal with the buying back or re-purchasing of something. The making new again...They are about taking something from one owner & buying it back or about recreating something to it's former state...
It's hard for us to see/find value in something that is all messed up...Like an old car - that's rusted...missing parts...been in a wreck...etc... Yet, someone that knows how to restore (redeem) it sees it quite differently than us. Watch a Barrett-Jackson Car Auction & you'll see the value of something seemingly of little value redeemed - often to values none of us would ever pay...
Well, when one looks at another life that's all messed up - it's hard to see any value left - because of the wreck(sin)...damages...etc...But God - the Redeemer - somehow is able to see the inherent value of our soul/life & ONLY He is able to redeem us from our sins...Simply because He knows the value of restoration & redemption...
I mean - isn't that the Gospel? Isn't that the Story of Jesus' life, death & Resurrection?
Beyond me needing to be redeemed - what about all the others around us?
For me - I'm trusting the Redeemer...
Just a thought...
The words deal with the buying back or re-purchasing of something. The making new again...They are about taking something from one owner & buying it back or about recreating something to it's former state...
It's hard for us to see/find value in something that is all messed up...Like an old car - that's rusted...missing parts...been in a wreck...etc... Yet, someone that knows how to restore (redeem) it sees it quite differently than us. Watch a Barrett-Jackson Car Auction & you'll see the value of something seemingly of little value redeemed - often to values none of us would ever pay...
Well, when one looks at another life that's all messed up - it's hard to see any value left - because of the wreck(sin)...damages...etc...But God - the Redeemer - somehow is able to see the inherent value of our soul/life & ONLY He is able to redeem us from our sins...Simply because He knows the value of restoration & redemption...
I mean - isn't that the Gospel? Isn't that the Story of Jesus' life, death & Resurrection?
Beyond me needing to be redeemed - what about all the others around us?
For me - I'm trusting the Redeemer...
Just a thought...
Jun 25, 2009
Lord Teach ME to Pray
There's something very real (deep & meaningful) about not having anything but God. That place where you learn what it is to call out to Him expecting (maybe hoping is more like it at first) Him to hear & reply.
I mean think about it - I can't see God...Touch Him...Feel Him (physically)...Smell Him...I have no tangible means of validating His reality. Everything we believe & practice about Him is by nothing but faith.
Yet, how often are our prayer & even our faith not very deep - simply because they/it doesn't have to be. If God does - fine & if He doesn't it'll be ok. That's about where we really live isn't it?
My point? Allow your relationship with HIM to adventure some. Allow yourself to believe for the ridiculous God sized things in life. Allow your self to pray for the really really really really hard things. Ask God to do things that only He can really do - not the things that we can possibly make happen w/out Him. Let your prayer life become a practicing conversation with your Heavenly Father.
When you get there - regardless of how you get there - you will learn (or relearn) to pray. I mean really pray. As in believing that you are talking to a God that can & will...
Prayer was what the Disciples saw as key to everything about Jesus.
So, when they had a chance to ask for something from Jesus - they went right to the heart of His relationship with his Heavenly Father - prayer. They asked Jesus to teach them to pray. They asked him to teach them to be able to talk to God like he does. So, He did.
Not only did He teach them - He talked about asking for the BIG things...About believing & receiving...About the role faith should play when we talk to Heavenly Father.
For me - it's paramount that I pray. I mean taking time to get away from it all & get physically on my knees & talk/cry out/weep/be silent/listen/repent/worship - MY Heavenly Father. Then as I get off my knees - I definitely feel connected to someone that I can't see or touch & yet become increasingly convinced of His reality & His participation in my life - the good & the bad.
Lord - teach me to pray!
I mean think about it - I can't see God...Touch Him...Feel Him (physically)...Smell Him...I have no tangible means of validating His reality. Everything we believe & practice about Him is by nothing but faith.
Yet, how often are our prayer & even our faith not very deep - simply because they/it doesn't have to be. If God does - fine & if He doesn't it'll be ok. That's about where we really live isn't it?
My point? Allow your relationship with HIM to adventure some. Allow yourself to believe for the ridiculous God sized things in life. Allow your self to pray for the really really really really hard things. Ask God to do things that only He can really do - not the things that we can possibly make happen w/out Him. Let your prayer life become a practicing conversation with your Heavenly Father.
When you get there - regardless of how you get there - you will learn (or relearn) to pray. I mean really pray. As in believing that you are talking to a God that can & will...
Prayer was what the Disciples saw as key to everything about Jesus.
So, when they had a chance to ask for something from Jesus - they went right to the heart of His relationship with his Heavenly Father - prayer. They asked Jesus to teach them to pray. They asked him to teach them to be able to talk to God like he does. So, He did.
Not only did He teach them - He talked about asking for the BIG things...About believing & receiving...About the role faith should play when we talk to Heavenly Father.
For me - it's paramount that I pray. I mean taking time to get away from it all & get physically on my knees & talk/cry out/weep/be silent/listen/repent/worship - MY Heavenly Father. Then as I get off my knees - I definitely feel connected to someone that I can't see or touch & yet become increasingly convinced of His reality & His participation in my life - the good & the bad.
Lord - teach me to pray!
Jun 16, 2009
Epic
I have many titles for these thoughts...
A Perfect God & Imperfect People...God's Plan Remains...He's Greater...It Might Not Be As Fragile As We Think...I'll go with "EPIC" - as in story...Not just any story - the story of your life - with God in it...Or as we often say - life after Christ (AC).
My theme - is it really true that God has a plan for our life? By that I mean a perfect plan...By that I mean a perfect plan for imperfect people...
By plan - I mean something designed for each of us to do/be/accomplish/achieve...etc...But therein lies the dilemma - "a perfect plan for imperfect people" or more specifically "a perfect plan for an imperfect person like me". I mean - what about our imperfections...failures... sins...flaws...all the things in us that sometimes cause us to mess up the perfect plan for our life.
Then what?
Well...
When you read the Bible - we read about God's perfect plan being accomplished through people just like you & me - imperfect. That's definitely a reoccurring theme - people mess up God's plan for their life.
However, there's another reoccurring theme that seems to be even greater than the first. That's - God is greater than our mess ups!
It seems that when we read of someone messing it up in the Bible - God somehow pulls it back together & makes something good out of it. Of course, it's conditional on the person surrendering (or re-surrendering) to God & allowing Him to create something within again...Then we see it over & over & over - God's plan remains in tact - somehow.
So...my point - if, while we are alive, the story of our life is still being written - even after our failures/sins...then why stop living like it's all over when we fail? As hard as it might be - we can't quit.
Why allow the failure to define our life or our future?
Why allow our failure to become greater than the God within?
Why allow our sin to have the greater say in our life than the God who loved us so much that He forgave us of them?
Why not give God another chance with our life after failure & see what He can do with someone that has a broken & contrite heart?
Why not risk it & see what a Perfect God can do with an imperfect person - after the imperfections have shown up?
A friend of mine says "If you're going through hell - don't stop - keep going".
So...
I'm not going to allow the sin of my life to be the greatest defining moment or to be the greater legacy of mine. Not only for me - but for my marriage...family...friendships...ministry...
I'm going to give the Perfect God a chance to help me write a better ending to my life story...
Another step...
A Perfect God & Imperfect People...God's Plan Remains...He's Greater...It Might Not Be As Fragile As We Think...I'll go with "EPIC" - as in story...Not just any story - the story of your life - with God in it...Or as we often say - life after Christ (AC).
My theme - is it really true that God has a plan for our life? By that I mean a perfect plan...By that I mean a perfect plan for imperfect people...
By plan - I mean something designed for each of us to do/be/accomplish/achieve...etc...But therein lies the dilemma - "a perfect plan for imperfect people" or more specifically "a perfect plan for an imperfect person like me". I mean - what about our imperfections...failures... sins...flaws...all the things in us that sometimes cause us to mess up the perfect plan for our life.
Then what?
Well...
When you read the Bible - we read about God's perfect plan being accomplished through people just like you & me - imperfect. That's definitely a reoccurring theme - people mess up God's plan for their life.
However, there's another reoccurring theme that seems to be even greater than the first. That's - God is greater than our mess ups!
It seems that when we read of someone messing it up in the Bible - God somehow pulls it back together & makes something good out of it. Of course, it's conditional on the person surrendering (or re-surrendering) to God & allowing Him to create something within again...Then we see it over & over & over - God's plan remains in tact - somehow.
So...my point - if, while we are alive, the story of our life is still being written - even after our failures/sins...then why stop living like it's all over when we fail? As hard as it might be - we can't quit.
Why allow the failure to define our life or our future?
Why allow our failure to become greater than the God within?
Why allow our sin to have the greater say in our life than the God who loved us so much that He forgave us of them?
Why not give God another chance with our life after failure & see what He can do with someone that has a broken & contrite heart?
Why not risk it & see what a Perfect God can do with an imperfect person - after the imperfections have shown up?
A friend of mine says "If you're going through hell - don't stop - keep going".
So...
I'm not going to allow the sin of my life to be the greatest defining moment or to be the greater legacy of mine. Not only for me - but for my marriage...family...friendships...ministry...
I'm going to give the Perfect God a chance to help me write a better ending to my life story...
Another step...
Jun 9, 2009
A New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:16 - 21 says this:
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Verse 17 is in blue... it says that if anyone is in Christ - they are a new creation; the old has passed away & all things have become new.
My prayer is that God teaches me how to fully experience that (as a man...husband...father...friend...Christ-follower...) over & over & over - not just once...not just for the moment...not just for today...UNTIL...
Until - I am truly a new creation in all areas of life - from the inside out.
The only thing I currently know to do to allow this to happen is pray & seek God...By that, I mean to put myself on my knees & cry out to Him from my heart, trusting that those moments will be God-Encounters. God-Encounters where God does something within me that I am incapable of doing myself. Then trust that in real life - the "new me" is the one that lives...
Another step...
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Verse 17 is in blue... it says that if anyone is in Christ - they are a new creation; the old has passed away & all things have become new.
My prayer is that God teaches me how to fully experience that (as a man...husband...father...friend...Christ-follower...) over & over & over - not just once...not just for the moment...not just for today...UNTIL...
Until - I am truly a new creation in all areas of life - from the inside out.
The only thing I currently know to do to allow this to happen is pray & seek God...By that, I mean to put myself on my knees & cry out to Him from my heart, trusting that those moments will be God-Encounters. God-Encounters where God does something within me that I am incapable of doing myself. Then trust that in real life - the "new me" is the one that lives...
Lord - Hear my prayer...
So...Another step...
Jun 8, 2009
Love Grace & Mercy
Here's where I'm at on something...
By sinning - I gave up ALL my rights to ask or expect anything.
What I mean by that - I have no right to ask for anything from anyone nor do I have any right to expect anything from them either. And I mean NONE...
Whether it's my wife...my kids...friends or anyone else - I have no right to ask for anything.
The way I see that is - I gave all that up through my sin. So...If anyone (Shawn included) decides to: come back into my life...love me...be my friend...hang out with me...it's all a "measure" of love grace & mercy being given back to me. I have no right to ask for it nor expect it...
When you stand alone & are truly lonely - you are reminded real quickly how much love grace & mercy means to you - not in talk - but in action...
So, it causes you (me) to go from living, to some degree, a life of taking things for granted - to a life of taking nothing for granted. NOTHING! Anyone that chooses to come back into my life is exactly that - their choice & therefore a gift in my life.
So, what's that mean for me?
To all the people that have made the choice to come back into my life (& those that will), I'm hoping that I never loose that feeling of deep appreciation for each of you...It means the world to have friends & family that choose to come back in my life!
Thanks.
So...
Another step...
PS
Some are asking how to reach me or Shawn - our email is bobgroves@cox.net. You can reach either or both of us there...
By sinning - I gave up ALL my rights to ask or expect anything.
What I mean by that - I have no right to ask for anything from anyone nor do I have any right to expect anything from them either. And I mean NONE...
Whether it's my wife...my kids...friends or anyone else - I have no right to ask for anything.
The way I see that is - I gave all that up through my sin. So...If anyone (Shawn included) decides to: come back into my life...love me...be my friend...hang out with me...it's all a "measure" of love grace & mercy being given back to me. I have no right to ask for it nor expect it...
When you stand alone & are truly lonely - you are reminded real quickly how much love grace & mercy means to you - not in talk - but in action...
So, it causes you (me) to go from living, to some degree, a life of taking things for granted - to a life of taking nothing for granted. NOTHING! Anyone that chooses to come back into my life is exactly that - their choice & therefore a gift in my life.
So, what's that mean for me?
To all the people that have made the choice to come back into my life (& those that will), I'm hoping that I never loose that feeling of deep appreciation for each of you...It means the world to have friends & family that choose to come back in my life!
Thanks.
So...
Another step...
PS
Some are asking how to reach me or Shawn - our email is bobgroves@cox.net. You can reach either or both of us there...
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