John 8:1-11:
"Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.He straightens up again, and speaks to her. 'Where are your accusers?' he asks. 'Has no-one seen fit to condemn you?' She simply answers 'No-one, sir.' 'Then I do not condemn you either' says Jesus. 'Go on your way, and do not sin anymore.'"
This week in one of our family bible studies, a young man proceeded to talk about adultery. He said that adultery was a sin on the top of God's list of hates. He claimed that it makes you unacceptable in the eyes of your spouse and God, and that it is hugely immoral. What he said seemed as if it made sense, and many of the listeners probably agreed with him, understandably. But I just felt there was something missing in His theory...at the time, I couldn't put my finger on it....and then later I realized...it was 'Grace' and 'Mercy'.
Grace and Mercy are two different things. Grace is when you get something you don't deserve, like a unexpected blessing or gift. Mercy is when you don't get something that you do deserve, like a 'get out of jail free' card when you've done wrong.
Grace and Mercy are two different things. Grace is when you get something you don't deserve, like a unexpected blessing or gift. Mercy is when you don't get something that you do deserve, like a 'get out of jail free' card when you've done wrong.
When we as Christians think about sinning, we always seem to have a list of the things that we think really offend God...none of which we are doing ourselves. It is interesting in the bible, several men approached Jesus to ask him what they had to to do be saved, and always made sure to include the fact that they had lived good lives and been just about perfect in doing right. But instead of patting them on the back, and saying 'Good Job' like they probably expected Him to, Jesus always caused them to see that there was always more that they could be doing, regardless of how 'perfect' they thought they had been.
Most of us are that way. We think that our sins are minimal, and that whatever the next man is doing is going to send him straight to hell. We even get angry when God seems to let some sinners go unpunished, as Jonah did when God spared the city of Ninevah.
But, listen, we have to realize that God says 'My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are my ways your ways.' Which means that just because we think a certain way abut the sins of others, and cast them down as 'depraved', doesn't mean that God is throwing them away. Sometimes, those are the very people that he will eventually use to accomplish His purpose later on. Jesus made friends with Tax collectors, adulterers, sinners, and others. Why? Because they were the most grateful when their sins were forgiven, because they were coming up from the lowest point, and they could really humbly appreciate the magnitude of what Jesus was doing for them. Interesting how His 'circle of friends' never mentioned Pharisees (Pastors) and Religious leaders. Those were the ones who he constantly clashed with. Because like most Christians, they thought they had it all together, were set in their ways, "Perfect"...so mentioning change to them was highly offensive.
I feel prompted by the Spirit to be transparent: Hopefully my testimony will help someone...
There was a time in my life when I didn't have or know God. I did what felt right, and condemned those who ran around 'bible thumping'. I felt like those people were judgmental, hypocritical, and strange (although I myself was judging them by just thinking those things). Then, I became Saved. *Choir singing*
When I was newly saved I went the complete opposite end of the spectrum. I would sit back and turn up my nose at others who walked in sin. I would refuse to deal with them, talk about how they didn't fear God at all, and that they would eventually have Hell To Pay for their actions. See, I worked hard to follow all the commandments and talked often about how 'righteous' I was living, patting myself on the back for my own loyalty to God and others around me. At that time, unless you came to me willing to change your life and turn from your 'wicked ways', I didn't want to have much to do with you. I felt like a 'Super-Christian.' ~
Eventually, this way of thinking led to my downfall.
Over time, I got drained and tired trying to make myself this 'perfect' person. I had forgotten the grace and mercy I had received from my own sins, and was walking around prideful and confident in my own salvation. As the bible says, 'Pride comes before a fall' and I got a wake-up call that I never saw coming.
I got caught up into an emotionally adulterous relationship. It started off with him always coming on to me, subtly. He was extremely handsome, so I didn't immediately shut him down like I should have. We had extremely long talks (even about God) with lots of laughing, joking and fun, which led to flirting, then compliments, and eventually, feelings developed. I stopped thinking with my head, and started being led by my flesh. It got to the point where all I thought about was him. He made me feel as if I was the only woman in the world who mattered, and even when other women were hounding him, he ignored them. I became flattered. I even justified it in my mind, saying to myself that I wasn't happy, that it was nice to be admired and adored, that what I was feeling meant that it must be right and good, because it gave me such elation and feelings of worth and appreciation, which as a wife and mother I had felt was missing. The things I was going through at home were always feeling overwhelming and chaotic, and no matter how much I prayed, I had lost my sense of peace...so this new and exciting relationship became my way out, my escape, and in it I felt beautiful, loved...and valued.
But the feeling wouldn't last. After several weeks, my secret was discovered, and outed to everyone...publicly. I was humiliated, trashed, cursed, and exiled. I felt like the adulterous woman who stood before the crowd, with tears in her eyes and a heavy heart, pleading, as her community of neighbors and friends held the stones high in their hands with hate in their eyes, shouting in unison for her immediate, painful death. I was yelled at, and told I was the lowest of the low. I felt the hateful whispers and stares and chants of 'hypocrite' with all those I had previously considered close to me. I heard the 'I told you she wasn't about nothing', 'Fake', and laughs from my adversaries. Everyone had turned against me, even the person I had entered into the 'relationship' with.
He turned away from me, and pretended as if it was all my fault.
In the ancient times, when stoning was done, both parties involved in the relationship were required to be stoned. Amazing, then too, most times the woman ended up standing alone.
In an effort to escape the guilt, shame, and condemnation, I attempted to take my life. I wound up in a hospital feeling completely abandoned, embarrassed, angry..wondering what happened to my common sense and good judgement, and how I had allowed myself to give in to temptation so easily. My prayers consisted of crying out for God to take me out of this world immediately. I had become 'those people' who I had previously judged, and now when I needed love and compassion, and understanding, there was none. I sank into a deep depression, stopped eating, smiling, or praying, and secluded myself from everyone, wanting to run and hide from my sins, like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. It had to be one of the absolute most painful times of my life. Once I left the hospital, I retreated to my mothers house, where she (thankfully) asked no questions, just handed me a robe and slippers, and nourished me back to health.
Why did I do it? I questioned myself. Was I now merely 'the foolish woman who tears her house down with her bare hands' mentioned in Proverbs?
During this time of inner turmoil, I was reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul, who was such a strong man of God, yet warred constantly with his body and fleshly desires. I felt his frustration as he said the following:
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but do what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it....Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Romans 7: 14-15
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but do what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it....Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Romans 7: 14-15
It was during this time that there were two people who called me up and offered me love, support and encouragement...neither one of whom I was particularly close at the time. One of whom I had judged in the past for being a sexually 'loose' woman, and one whom I had judged for living what I thought to be a hypocritical Christian lifestyle. Both said to me that they loved me regardless of what I had done. Both told me they didn't care and that everyone makes mistakes, and that all I had to do was pick myself up and keep going and that they had my back. They said the exact same things: 'I cant judge you, and I love you either way. Who ever doesn't...f- (insert profanity here) them.' At that moment, I understood exactly how the woman felt when Jesus said to her 'I don't condemn you, and go sin no more'. I felt relieved, grateful, and even silently cursed myself for ever having judged these women. I think there was a reason that God used those particular women; so that I would no longer ignorantly judge either sexually immoral people or people I considered hypocritical, because I could just as easily wind up in their shoes. Sometimes the people that we most misunderstand and put down are the very ones who, ironically, end up lifting us up in the end.
I learned the meaning of Grace and Mercy from the very people who I hadn't given it to before then.
With the adulterous woman, Jesus does not condone what she had done, or dismiss her sin as unimportant, or understandable. He never once says 'What you did was okay.' or 'I can see that there must have been circumstances that forced you to cheat.' He knows, and she does too, that what she has done is wrong. But he always condemns the sin, not the sinner, and commands her not to sin again. Yes, the woman committed a serious sin against the community, the sin of adultery. It hurt herself, her children and family, and the people she knew. Her guilt was not questioned, nor was it excused by Jesus. But it was forgiven. The point of this story was not condemning the sinner, but calling the sinner to change, to be saved. Jesus wanted each person there in the Temple courtyard that morning to see that they themselves were sinners, and that their chief responsibility was to mend their own ways, before they could be intolerant of the actions of others. For me: message received!! I was instantly humbled and realized that I was not above falling myself, and I needed to repent and continue to be on guard, even when I thought I had it 'all together', the enemy could still tempt me into distraction and take me down in an instant.
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” -Matthew 26:41
Did the adulterous woman change? We never know..but its not our business. The message is what matters and it is aimed directly at each one of us. None of us are exempt.
In the bible, God refers to everyone of faith who disobeys and separates from Him as 'Adulterous':
James 4:4-5 (Phi) You are like unfaithful wives... never realizing that to be the world's lover means becoming the enemy of God! Anyone who deliberately chooses to be the world's friend is thereby making himself God's enemy."
So while we are looking down on the person who may have cheated on their spouse, we have to look at ourselves and see in what ways WE have cheated on God? Have we let love of money, music, entertainment, lovers, or success take the place of prayer, meditation, fasting, fellowship and time with God? What ways are we all like unfaithful lives in our Christian walk? Israel was always compared to an unfaithful wife. No matter what God did for them, it was never enough, and they always complained and sought to be back to their old land and ways, even preferring bondage over Gods perfect love and freedom.
I love the book of Hosea where God commanded the prophet Hosea to marry the prostitute Gomer, and no matter how much she ran from him, he was told to get her, forgive her, love her despite her unfaithful ways. It's a true example of the unconditional love and Mercy of God for his children, even when they run, hide and stray from His loving arms!
Hosea 3:1-3 The Lord said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods..." So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver... Then I told her, "You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you."
Now that's a Double Dose of Grace and Mercy! Even when this woman left him repeatedly, and even had children with other men...Hosea was ordered to love and forgive her, and even buy her out of prostitution.
It is hard for me to understand why God shows such love, compassion, Grace and Mercy to the undeserving, but instead of questioning it, I gratefully accept it for myself. I am now in a position where I must daily die to flesh, and seek to live a life that is solely pleasing to him. I no longer focus on others as much as myself, and my own relationship with God. I have lost my ability to cast stones, and now simply grovel at his feet. I have learned that if I just live as honorably as I can before God, being honest about my shortcomings and past, my light will shine and others will be motivated to change, without me having to 'preach' to them. Jesus knew the secret: Sinners don't change by constant preaching, nagging, or accusing. Instead, they are loved and accepted into change.
So next time you feel yourself in a position to condemn someone else for their lifestyle choices: repent, and just humbly pray and be thankful to God for where he has placed you...and continue to ask for His Grace and Mercy in your own walk. Throw down your stones, and continue to pray for strength, while admitting and recognizing where your own weaknesses are located. Be on guard!~and remember...None of us are above being tempted!!
As the famous quote says: "..But for the Grace of God, There goes I." -John Bradford
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."- 1 Cor 15:10
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