Christian Living
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." {John 8:3-11}
That sounds easy. Should I have a momentary lapse in judgment which causes me to step out of line with God's will, all I need to do is come before Him with a contrite heart, request forgiveness then turn from the sinful behavior. I don't have a problem understanding the concept or the process. It's the accepting forgiveness part that gets me every time. So.....what is it? Why can't I accept amnesty and move on? Why is it never that easy?
Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things. {Romans 2:1 CEV}
As much as I want to blame all the fault-finding folks of the world for my inability to heal and move on, that wouldn't be entirely accurate. I have to accept that charge. Of course, judgmental people exist (especially in the Christian community!!), and they are totally going to try to insert their opinions into the hearts and minds of those around them. However, if I know God's word, yet allow someone's critical analysis to penetrate my heart instead of God's love and mercy, I am at fault. Sometimes it seems like it's actually easier to swallow another's criticism than to accept our Father's pardon.....but I am indeed committing yet another grievous act if I regard another's opinion over God's.
God says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "....if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." That's it. Pray and stop. We don't have to justify ourselves to anyone. We don't need to work to gain the approval of naysayers. We don't have to doubt our worth because of someone's negative view of us. We don't have to wallow in guilt and disgrace because someone found out about our sin. Instead, we should be basking in the mercy of the Lord because His opinion and judgment will determine our value. In fact, what's a better witness than a testimony of the forgiving grace that Jesus Christ paid so much for yet gives away so freely? Wasn't that His commission?
Our savior wants us to let go. He wants us to be free. He wants us to experience true joy. We can't do that when we are schlepping a big bag o' shame with us whereever we go! Besides, over the years I've leanred that no one else is as "good" as they want you to think they are anyway! So let's make up our minds that we are going to stop brooding over what that guy said or what that girl is going to think. Decide not to fret over anyone's judgments. Don't complicate matters by trying to maintain a certain reputation with others. Rather, concentrate your efforts on the One who truly knows what "good" is all about. Remember we need only please our God in Heaven....and He says THAT'S EASY!!
"I [God], even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." {Isaiah 43:25}
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