Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 1-2; John 8
Devotional Thought:
We have all heard someone say the reason they do not go to church is because of the hypocrites. If truth be told, there is not a church in the world where there are not hypocrites. However, there is not a family, factory, or office that doesn’t suffer from the same problem. In John 8, Jesus addresses the heart issue of hypocrisy. I find it interesting that these hypocrites knew the law, found someone breaking the law, and made a production of someone else’s sin. The agenda was deeper than just bringing an adulterous woman to justice. They sought to put Jesus in a precarious situation. If He stoned the lady they would accuse Jesus of not having mercy or showing forgiveness, but if He did not stone the lady they would accuse Him of not keeping the law. Of course, Jesus did neither, but rather started writing in the dirt. What He wrote, we are not told, but whatever it was certainly exposed the accusers and brought them to shame. Jesus said, “…he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (vs. 7) These hypocrites “being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one…” (vs. 9) If we are honest with ourselves, there is plenty in our own lives for which God could “stone” us, and so why do we find ourselves pointing out the sin of others? Jesus was the only One without sin, who could have actually thrown a stone with a clear conscience, but His words were, “neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more.” (vs. 11) Jesus did not ignore the sin, but rather expressed grace and mercy, but rebuked the behavior as unacceptable. The important thing to notice is that He rebuked her personally, privately, and practically. The goal was to help her grow in grace and not to make her a public display of criticism. Jesus concludes this chapter by explaining His role as the Light of the world. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Jesus tells these Pharisees that if they do not believe that Jesus is the True Light, they will die in their sins. Oh how we are reminded of God’s great grace. He left the glory of heaven to come and die for the sins of the world. We must lift up His righteousness and quit trying to elevate our own. The Pharisees tried to elevate their own righteousness by exposing the sin of the woman, but Jesus makes it clear that our righteousness’ are as filthy rags. When man tries to elevate himself, he steals the glory that is due the Lord, and must find fault in someone else to make himself look better. How sad that we see this too often in our world today. It is no wonder that so many in our world are confused about salvation and the change that is brought about through Christ.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to point people to a proper understanding of your person. Please help me to hide behind the cross and elevate the righteousness of Christ.
• Lord, thank you for dying for my sin and paying the awful price tag for me. Help me to be broken over my own sin, and grateful for the forgiveness that is in Christ.
• Lord, please help me to point people to Christ by the way I treat them, talk about them, and take opportunities to help them.