His Word is perfect in every way, how it revives our souls! His laws lead us to truth, His ways make us wise! His teachings make us joyful and give us light, Hie precepts so pure! His commands, how they challenge us to keep close to His heart! The revelation-light of His Word makes my spirit shine radiant! To fear Him keeps me faithful, to follow Him keeps me full of life! Nothing He says ever needs to be changed. Psalm 19:7-9 TPT.
Greetings to you in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! What a lovely morning…quiet and still! Once again I am thanking God for the joy of being alive to enjoy all of the blessings that will be part of this day. This morning I was pondering all the news stories I have been listening to…not much of it very positive. In the midst of these ‘ponderings’ a song found it’s way from the cd playing in another room: This is my Father’s world – O let me ne’er forget-That though the wrong seems oft so strong-God is ruler yet-This is my Father’s world-The battle is not done-Jesus who died shall be satisfied-and earth and heaven be one. Today I will be praying for you today, asking God to reveal where He is working in “your world” to overcome all that is wrong.
I have been trying to decide what my preaching schedule should look like and I have found myself looking at some of my favourite passages. This morning I was drawn to the story of the woman caught in adultery – John 8:1-11, and God revealed an insight. Of course it was tied to a song or two. At our church we like to sing a song called: “Sitting At The Feet of Jesus”. It is a “feel good” song and I am sure that when we sing it there are images of tenderness and peace in our minds. However, for the woman and her accusers ‘sitting at the feet of Jesus’ was different story. Another song says: “See me at the feet of Jesus-Find me, find me with my head bowed down” and it is a more reflective with thoughts and feelings that overwhelm, much like – I am sure – what was taking place.
So often when we look at this story…the hostility, not to the woman, but to Jesus from the accusers, the vulnerability of the woman, the awkward questioning of the crowd, and the powerful calm of Jesus…we make many assumptions. Well I have, because I followed traditional thinking. When Jesus invited the one without sin to throw the first stone and then knelt to write in the ground…I assumed that he was writing a list of sins that brought condemnation to the accusers that made the older-been around longer-sinned more than others – turn away. However what if that is not what happened? We know from the verbal exchange with the woman, there was no condemnation in Jesus. So…what if the heart of Jesus was filled with love and grace and mercy? What if the older ones in the crowd of accusers were overwhelmed by the memory of the many times that they has been forgiven, had received God’s mercy, had experienced love, had been graciously corrected? What if they were suddenly ashamed of their attitudes and behaviour? What if the love of God was so strong in the person of Jesus that hate, viciousness, and evil manipulations was put to flight?
Let me give you the words of one more song: Come To The Altar – (the feet of Jesus) – Come into this place, come seek His face-Find the hand of forgiveness-Look into the eyes of grace-Run into redemption-With tears of joy and pain-Let fire fall and purify our hearts-Come to the altar, come to His arms. I am going to leave this with you to think about…but let me testify to the fact that ‘sitting at the feet of Jesus’ is to experience love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, restoration, healing, transformation–and not just when I am right with God but even when I am not right with God. Maybe, just maybe, you and I need to be reminded of the ‘power of God’s love’ – after all “this is my Father’s world.”
Be blessed!