*Haha, I just noticed that little flower beside the title!! Very ‘manly’ there. 😉 But that is okay cause I like the layout, and flowers are cool too. *
Just last night I read a very inspiring little story. One which condemned me, and also relieved me.
I am sure many of you are familiar with it. It takes place in John 8:1-11, which, in my Bible at least, it says that most ancient Greek manuscripts do not include this passage. (I have no clue what that is supposed to mean, but I would assume it means that there is doubt in its authenticity. But, like I said, I do not really have any idea what it means.)
In case you are not familiar with the passage, or need some refreshment of the memory, I will insert it below. If, by some rare chance, you have it memorized, or if you know it well enough, then feel free to skip the quote.
Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
When I read this last phrase, it slapped me on the face. It made me perk right up. It registered in my brain. It hit me like an asteroid hitting a planet!
“Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” Is it really that simple?
Right away, I knew in my heart that it was God’s way of telling me, “Get up, keep going, it’s alright–go and sin no more!”
When I fail, and it seems like I do a lot, God can forgive me. When I do something wrong in God’s eyes, it is not the end of the world. I merely must repent, and he will tell me, “Go, sin no more!” It almost brings tears to my eyes to think about Jesus saying that to me.
It did not help that when I had first opened my Bible, it had opened right up to Proverbs 12, which starts out just splendidly, “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.” Oh, great! I am about to learn something here! Ook, well let us check it out–cautiously, of course.
“The Lord approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness.”
Oh, ouch.
“Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.”
Mmm, good advise.
“The plans of the godly are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.”
Ugh, stab.
“The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.”
Huh, s’more good advice. “The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm.”
Where am I at, I wonder?
“A sensible person wins admiration, but a warped mind is despised.”
Okay, let’s be sensible.
“Better to be an ordinary person with a servant than to be self-important but have no food.”
Okay, sensible–but ordinary.
It would be rather long if I would put all the verses in here, so if you have an interest in reading them, see Proverbs 12
“The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble.”
“Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.”
“Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.”
Ooo, another correction. I shall take it.
“A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.”
OW!! Stop talking about me!
“An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies.”
“Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!”
Mmm…
“No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.”
Talk about making me feel so warm and fuzzy!!!
“The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death.”
Whoever wrote this book was wise!! Good note to end on.
So now I am all down, feeling condemned, and needing to get back on the ‘way of the godly’.
Then I flip through my Bible some more, and it comes to the passage in John. And I am like, “Okay, looks interesting, I’ve read it before, let’s read it again.”
And then I read verses 10-11.
“Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
My heart seriously skipped a bit. It was like, wowzers. God can really talk! He wisely let’s me read Proverbs, then brings me here. He breaks, and then repairs–correctly.
That little phrase is so powerful! -Neither do I condemn thee. Go, and sin no more- Precious words indeed.
“Neither do I condemn thee go and sin no more! Precious words divine…”
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!”
Another lesson from the passage of John, is that of which the Pharisees received.
Who are we to judge? Are we not the same as the one we are judging?
“Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”
I don’t know about you guys, but I should be the first to receive the stone! Nobody is perfect, none of us is worthy to throw the first stone. Only God is. And the ‘problem’ with Him, is that He forgives–even my enemies. Not only the sinners I am stoning, but my enemies.
I can just picture it.
I’ve raised my hand to throw the stone, and Jesus walks up, stops my arm as I begin to throw, and says, “Here, let me have that.” But then he takes the stone and tosses it away, turns and lifts the condemned to his feet and says, “Go and sin no more.“
C.D.