Welcome to the end of the Gospels chapter 8:1-8. Let us enter the book of John, the Beloved.
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.
Jesus frequently went into the temple and taught the people who gathered there. His ministry was not done in secret, and neither should ours!
3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.”
Here come the religious leaders, dragging a trembling woman into the midst of Jesus’s teaching. Note how they plan to catch Jesus with the law of Moses.
And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”
Was the woman dragged from the bed, clutching a sheet? Did they allow her to grab her robe? Her hair was probably loose, uncustomary for that culture. Full of shame, fear, consternation, maybe? I’m sure she already knew the law and consequences. I’m sure she did not know the compassion Jesus had for her, a sinner.
6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
Jesus spoke without a word. He knew their hearts as well as He knew the Laws of Moses. We all wonder exactly what Jesus was writing with His finger in the dirt.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
We all know what happens next. The leaders turned around and left, in shame. It began with the elders, ending with the youngest. I assumed because the eldest had more time to rack up sins.
Jesus asked the woman where her accusers were. They all left! He told her that he did not condemn her [see John 3:17] but warned her to go and sin no more.
One question that arises: Where was the other half of the adulterous couple? Was he one of the leaders?
This passage of Scripture sets many people free, especially women in Muslim communities. Jesus was demonstrating the value God puts on women. Many cultures and religions put no value on women. Note: one false version of the Bible ends this story with Jesus killing this woman because he was the one without sin, giving him the onus to stone her to death.
This brings me to my reading from yesterday’s devotions, Matthew chapter 7. I think judgement is the crux of John chapter 8. as well as Matthew 7.
Do Not Judge
Matthew 7:1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
All of us have been guilty of transgressing the law at some point in our lives. When we humble ourselves, we can see clearly. Religious piety is normal for our human bent. We experience something of God and the Spirit, then we want to hold onto it. We make it a dogma to follow.
Humanity loves having boundaries. The freedom we get from Christ and the love of God can make us uneasy. It’s much easier to have rules to follow and parameters to hold us in although, we also want to push those boundaries. Pay attention to what brings judgmental thoughts to your mind; it is probably your plank.
Coming back to Matthew 7, we like to judge those who are different, who are doing something/being something we don’t think is right. We must be careful to have a true estimation of who we are in light of Christ and God’s love.
All of us are guilty, bound for judgement by a righteous God. We have forgiveness in Jesus. Do not take it lightly! Extend it to others as you speak the truth in love. You want mercy and forgiveness, so does the one you are condemning by your thoughts/words/ actions. I leave you with these thoughts. The photo is me, getting ready to identify with Christ’s death and resurrection in baptism. I pray you get time to seek the LORD and find His Shalom. Until next time, be a blessing as you are blessed by God!
Muse with me about what life could be like if we spontaneously thanked God for everything. Thank You God, for my laptop so I can share Your great news with others through email and this blog. Thank You God, for the catchup I just processed from our bountiful garden. Thank You Father, for my husband John and thank You that he does not acknowledge You as Lord yet… Thank You God, for the hot, humid weather and that I have the ability to sweat. Thank You for the food I just ate and that You provided the dark chocolate treat! Thank You for my brother in the nursing home and all the people who care for him. Thank You…
I’m thankful for sweating because I have a friend who cannot sweat, and his wife has to keep an eye on him in hot weather. I’m thankful that my husband has not found a relationship with Jesus yet because God’s timing is perfect and it’s not quite time yet. While I wait, we are both learning many things about relationships. I’m thankful for the rain and that before it came, our well ran low and we’ve been working off a 500-gallon water tank for over a week. It’s giving us a chance to find creative ways to conserve water while I’ve been canning!
I forgive my husband, my brother, people who have made my life difficult and challenging, because I do not want to keep them away from the good things God has for them. I also realize it hurts me when I hold on to unforgiveness. Ignoring people or walking on eggshells around them puts stress on me and may be keeping me away from fulfilling God’s plan for my life and for His glory.
So, I choose to forgive, choose to be thankful, and find release for myself and those around me. It paves the way for me to experience more of the love of God in Christ Jesus and to walk in the light. As the light of love grows, I can’t help but let it shine! We are to dwell in Christ and shine the light to draw people to kingdom realities, including freedom, faith, and healing.
This week I also began a new 30-day devotional, Walking in the Miraculous by Chad Gonzales. Chad says, “Miracles are normal for the one who walks in their union with Christ.” These devotionals focus on renewing “…your mind to who you are in Christ and the powerful, victorious life God has designed for you to live.” The video I linked goes well with this book. I encourage you to watch it and get the first-hand account.
God established the rituals of Passover as a reminder of how He brought them out of Egypt-the term Seder actually means order-it revealed to me how much symbolism is part of the order of things. This meal was to remind the children of what a great and mighty God we have, telling and showing how the first Passover was celebrated. Children, even adults, need to have things acted out in a way they can remember, and this celebration is one of several in the Jewish calendar that do that.
In Christian society, we celebrate the Last Supper, remembering how Jesus Christ suffered and died as the perfect Passover Lamb. His agony and triumph mean we no longer have to pay for our own sins as long as we accept what He did as payment for all. When we celebrate communion, Jesus said it’s to remember what He did until He comes back. At this time in this universe, I believe the “fullness of the Amorites” sins are coming to a close, being exposed and dealt with, to make room for God’s glory to come down. Remember, God does not share His glory with anyone else, so hold on tight and stand in faith!
Which leads me back to my word for the year, forgiveness. I have not taken the time to research the word yet, so I will begin here with the dictionary definition.
When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself.”
The church has a record of being wary of new technology, or new ways of doing church. We have spent years demonizing the internet explosion, technology, new ways of doing finance, and new ways to dress and to worship. Not to mention discouraging “Christian” young people from going into the film industry, politics, and other “worldly” professions, such as higher education.
As we head into the near future, let us walk in love and forgiveness, being ready for what the Lord is doing. Help is on the way and changes are coming for our families, churches, neighborhoods and the nations. It will be a difficult, but glorious time! Seek the Lord, read the Word, pray and sing praise as you walk in the Spirit, testing the spirits and not making snap judgements of rejection. Prepare yourself to mentor and disciple new believers and people who have not been in church for many years. This new era requires the entire body of Christ to arise and engage to handle the influx, not just the leaders of the church. Onward Christian Soldiers!
Well dear readers, July 15th, 1983 is the day my eldest son was born. As he was growing up, two years in a row there were major events on his birthday. The microburst happened on July 15 and in 1996, Southern Mexico had an earthquake and a Belgian jet crashed. 
this is his daughter enjoying her birthday!
Mrs. Choi’s story brings two things to mind. First, how much should we share about our abuse when the Bible says not to even talk about the things done in darkness; about the things the evil one does? Second, I have never experienced abuse half as much as she has; what right do I have to withhold forgiveness toward anyone in my life?
I read The Shepherd’s Voice, Robin Lee Hatcher’s 1934 depression era novel set in Ransom, Idaho. The heroine’s name is Akira, Scottish for anchor. Her grandfather wanted her to have a powerful name to make her not be afraid of life; he put a lot of stock in meaningful names. The man with a past’s name is Gabriel, which means a strong man of God. Akira has kept the sheep farm her grandfather left when he died, never thinking about marriage, satisfied with life on her grandfather’s farm. Gabe has come back from prison to see his Lumber Baron father, who not only put him in prison, but owns most of the town… except Akira’s farm! Akira is of strong faith, but can even her faith stand up to what’s ahead with this waif of a man whom she found unconscious from hunger under her thinking tree and his blood-thirsty, manipulative father? As usual, Robin has woven an exciting, thought-provoking story with many surprising twists, much history, and faith! I highly recommend this book.![The Shepherd's Voice: A Novel by [Robin Lee Hatcher]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51c7v5lqMSL.jpg)
What Todd shared on page 25 truly hit home for me, putting Paul’s story in a new setting. 
I challenge you today to think of one person in your life who is hard to love. What steps can you take to establish a bridge by which you can share the gospel with that one? Remember, without love, we are nothing. Love is of God and everyone who belongs to God has His love, no excuse. In this I am shamed and challenged. Are you?
Musings along life's journey 