Holding Court In Our Hearts

 

“they said to Him [Jesus], ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ … So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’… Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’” – John 8:4-5,7,9-11

I am certain that you are familiar with this story about the woman caught in adultery. Putting it in context – why did God, the Father, send God, the Son?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” – John 3:16-20

Do you see what was happening in the case of the woman? The men were asking Jesus to condemn her when Jesus had come to save her (and them). They didn’t believe He was the Son of God, the Messiah. They were guilty themselves and their deeds were exposed.  They wanted grace and mercy but were not willing to give it.  Jesus called the woman to repentance and faith where she found forgiveness and reconciliation.  And that is what we, as Christians, have been called to do.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

We have not been given the ministry of condemnation but of reconciliation – calling sinners to repentance – pointing them to Jesus. Knowing that “all have sinned” and there are “none righteous, no not one” When asked to cast the first stone, we all would have to walk away – there but for the grace of God go I. It is in our old nature to be quick to condemn others – the speck and the beam (Matthew 7:3-5). There is a worldly system for the judgement and punishment of law breakers. But what I am speaking to is our holding court in our hearts and condemning others when it is not our place to judge. We have not been given a seat on the Bench – there is only one Judge – but, rather, we are called to be advocates for Jesus – the call the world to repentance – to go and sin no more.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone