He Did Not Condemn Her

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:1-11 NIV

This woman was caught in the act of adultery. She was guilty. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees (today they would be called leaders in the church) were ready to stone her. They offered no mercy or compassion just condemnation. They brought her to Jesus but not for compassion. They wanted Jesus to agree with them as well as to try and trap him so they could accuse him. Jesus responded, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her," the teachers of the law and the Pharisees as well as those who heard went away. They could not refute his words for they too had sin. Then Jesus said to the woman, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Jesus did not condemn her even though she was guilty. He had compassion on her. If Jesus our Master can show compassion, why can't you? Jesus displayed the attitude we're suppose to have for others whether they are guilty or not. So many of us Christians behave just like the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. We're so ready to condemn, to accuse, and to stone others who we think are guilty and those who are. Do you have wicked motives towards the person you judged as guilty?

Brothers and sisters we need to repent of such behavior and show compassion not condemnation. Remember, you have sin also. Why put yourself above others and look down on them? Why do to them what Jesus would not do?

Remember, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1-2 NIV Will you stand up to your own scrutiny if the tables were turned?

Know this: The prayers of that person you condemned are before the altar of God crying out against you for vindication and God hears it.

- Posted From The Road

Changes

Some people hate change but change is an important part of life if you want to grow. Scripture says, “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.” Ecclesiastes 7:14 NIV

Thank God for the changes in your life and praise Him for the things you’ve learned about yourself. Take a look at the circumstances that changed; do you see how you’ve grown? You may have tripped and stumbled through this season but you never gave up even though it was hard. You kept your faith and honored God”s word and He blessed you with a change for the better. Remember: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning,” Ecclesiastes 7:8 NIV

Embrace the change and the lessons learned.

- Posted From The Road

Thoughtfulness: Providing For Another's Need

"As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, 'Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don't embarrass her. Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don't rebuke her.'" Ruth 2:15-16 NIV

Compassion was shown to Ruth by Boaz because of his faith and all the things Ruth has done to help her mother-in-law Naomi. (see Ruth Chapter 1) We should all strive to do this and if we need encouragement simply look back on our lives when times were hard and we needed someone to step in and help. Sometimes, we received help and sometimes we did not- but how did you feel on both occasions? That feeling should spur us on to love and good deeds. It's not for us to judge the who, what, when and where of things- we are to show compassion. Therefore, let us go above and beyond what is expected to show consideration and thoughtfulness without embarrassing or rebuking the other person.

- Posted From The Road

Don't Wait

Don't you wait too late before you pray. Sinner boy, sinner girl you, you better make peace with your maker. One of these days, one of these ole days. You sure, you gotta meet your undertaker. So don't you wait too late before you pray.

Don't be like, like that rich man. Tell me Lazarus laid there beggin', beggin', beggin', kept right on, kept right on beggin' at his gates. Tell me when that rich man died in hell he lifted up his eyes but you know what, that's when he prayed. But don't you know his prayer, his prayer was to late. That's why I like to take time out, I just wanna tell you, don't you wait too late before you pray. Don't wait 'till they roll you down, down the aisle. Well it's too late, it's too late. When your tongue been glued to the roof of your mouth. Well it's too late. Heart done stop beatin', it's too late; pumpin' blood from one vein to another, well it's too late. Somebody walked up and looked down on you, it's too late. Called your name but you can't answer, well it's too late, it's too late. Don't let it, don't let it, don't let it, don't let it be said, it's too late. So don't you wait too late before you pray.

*Lee Williams, Don't Wait (Album Soulful Healing)

- Posted From The Road