Deuteronomy 7:9-11 – “Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 10 but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. 11 “Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them.” NASU

1 Corinthians 1:9 – “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” NASU

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. “  NASU

2 Timothy 2:13 – “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” NKJV

I cannot count the number of times I’ve had somebody ask me, “Why did God let this happen?”  At other times, I’ve been asked, “Why didn’t God do this or that for me?”  I had a preacher tell me once that there was a time in his life that he became so disillusioned and angry with the Lord over what he perceived to be a series of unanswered prayers in which he saw his father, his son, and a close friend die within a short span. He had reached is lowest point.

As he wallowed in his fear, doubt, and disappointment he found himself yelling at God. One day he became so angry that he took his Bible and threw it across the room. It was at that moment the Holy Spirit whispered to his heart, “Go ahead, let it all out, I still love you!”  Instantly he realized that although he could not explain why he suffered the loss he knew that each of them was safe in the Arms of God in Heaven and in a far better world than he was and as he repented a new joy flooded his heart.

I am fully confident that God will NEVER leave me nor will He FORSAKE me and will keep that which I have committed to Him for eternity.  I am confident that Jesus’ promise to Come Again was not idle words and that He truly is before the Throne making Intercession for you and me as I write.  I am confident that in His Father’s House are many Mansions, Rooms, or Dwelling Places (whichever you prefer) and that we can spend eternity with Him there.  I am confident that God is a Covenant Keeping God who NEVER goes back on His word and NEVER misses an appointment!

I have failed others and God in my life and each time it broke my heart.  I always tell people, don’t get your eyes on me because I am human and subject to let you down.  It won’t be intentional but still, I’m a flawed vessel and subject to failure.  I may disappoint you so, please never look to me always look to Him!  I can only see the outward appearance He sees the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  I can only see the beginning from the end but He can see the end from the beginning!  I am finite He is infinite!  I am weak but He is strong! 

As you go through the remaining days of 2019, I encourage you to take stock of your life over the past year and ask the Lord to reveal any areas in which you can or need to make a renewed commitment to Him in.  I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to do a work of transformation in your heart that will cause you to walk more in tune with His desires and purposes in all areas of your life.  I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions but I do take stock of my life and consider the obvious kinks in my armor and the flaws in my walk and ask the Lord to help me walk in the Light of His Love more and more every day!

It is my desire and prayer that the Lord grant, you Perfect Peace as your mind is fixed on Him!  I love you with the Love of the Lord and He loved you enough to die for you!

May God bless you as you go through your day! 

John 8:1-11 – “But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3 And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 And they were saying this, testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  8 And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst. 10 And straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”  11 And she said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more.”]”  NASB

What an amazing event that illustrates God’s Incredible Mercy!  Here we see the Love of God manifested in a most beautiful and powerful manner. This story has a message of Hope for all who will hear and heed.  Bible scholars are uncertain about where this story belongs.  Some do not feel it belongs at all, because in some of the ancient manuscripts it is omitted.

I classify myself as a student and reader of the Word of God not necessarily a Bible scholar and believe that it belongs in the Gospels as it is presented.  I believe this story is true, factual, and it is a record of an actual event in the life of Jesus and His encounters with the Scribes and Pharisees.  It is Powerful.

This story is consistent with what we know about the Scribes and Pharisees.  It is even more consistent with what we know about Jesus.  It is a sordid story, at least in its beginning.  It shows something of the ugliness of human nature.  However, along with the sordidness, it presents rare beauty. Even though some of the characters are cruel and harsh, there is one who is strong, loving, and tender.  Here the soiled rag of womanhood has come to what appears to be the end of her life but found that it was actually entering into the Land of Beginning Again!

I ask that you join me as we walk through some highlights of this story and consider its implications and ramifications.  Hopefully, we will discover some important realities that will help us deal with difficulties and sin in life, ours and others.

FIRST – Let’s Take A Look at the Woman Who is an Unwilling Actress in this Drama.

Of course, she was a willing participant in the adultery but not the drama that unfolded upon her discovery.  I find it interesting that the Bible makes no attempt to identify her.  She is left nameless but labeled an adulteress.  I find it incredibly interesting and even repulsive that her partner is not even mentioned nor is he accused of breaking the Law and worthy of death.  That leads me to believe that this was not about her or him but an attempt to entrap Jesus and get Him to violate the clear directive of the Bible and the Law.

In that day there was, and often still is, an incredible double-standard regarding morals.  A man had rights that a woman did not have.  That has somewhat changed but the sad reality is that too frequently women have dropped nearer the level of men than men climbing to a higher level once occupied by women.  You may not agree, but that is my perception.

She was Guilty!  That was not debatable for she had been caught in the act.  That smacks with being a setup but that’s not the issue.  She was guilty!  Her attitude is important.  She was possibly young and perhaps had loved but not wisely.  She may have been more sinned against than sinning, but still, she was guilty.  She could have been cynical and hard, having lived a life of immorality for along time.  We do not know, but none of that is particularly germane – She Was Guilty and now Exposed!

There were Eye Witnesses.  That was required under the Law.  Those witnesses told her story for her.  Hers was a case of hopelessness under the Law.  She was condemned already and now she could only await the final sentence and her impending stoning and death. 

Imagine being caught in a sin that carried the death penalty under the Law.  Imagine being paraded before the crowd and Jesus and your sin detailed so there is nowhere to hide.  Imagine the shame and fear that she must have been experiencing. 

I apologize for pausing at this point but time and space demands that I wait until the next meeting to address this more fully.  I want you to think about the story and place yourself in her shoes or that crowd.  I hope God will bring us to a place of tremendous spiritual victory as we proceed.

God bless you and have a great day in Jesus!