God’s Mission
John 8:10-11
“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.”
As you think about the adulterous woman from John 8, look at the difference in approach between Jesus and the Pharisees. She has been caught in the act of adultery. Because of this, the Pharisees see a prime opportunity, not to HELP her, but to USE her as a pawn in a grander scheme. Their mission? Entrap Jesus. Thus she is thrust into Jesus’ world during a teaching session with the temple crowd.
Jesus continues to teach the people before Him, only now He is focused on the newly-arrived Pharisees and this woman caught in the act. His mission? Same as before: Bring the Kingdom of God to bear in the lives of any and all who would receive it (John 1:10-13). While the Pharisees seem deaf to His teaching due to their self-driven agenda, this adulterous woman find a compassionate man – or better yet a compassionate God – reaching out in mercy. “Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
In light of this, pause and consider how you view people in your world. Are you like Jesus in approach or more comparable in attitude to the Pharisees?
Prayer
Father God, help me to be about your mission – with an attitude fit to serve. Let my agenda be determined by your will rather than trying to bend you toward my will. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Micro-Meditation Scripture
Psalm 119:153-160 (Resh, 20th letter)
- Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law.
- Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.
- Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees.
- Your compassion, LORD, is great; preserve my life according to your laws.
- Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes.
- I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word.
- See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, LORD, in accordance with your love.
- All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Micro-Meditation
Teaching or Command of God
Philippians 2:14-15
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever.
Micro-Meditation
Pondering Point
As righteous and devoted as this writer is toward God, his life is not without suffering. Affliction drives some folks from God, others to God. How about you?