DAY 237--NO CONDEMNATION
2008-09-14

Ok. I actuall started this entry early this morning. But the internet decided to quit working and Steph decided to meltdown, etc. So I didn't get it finished. I copied what I had written to Word, and am pasting it below, along with the continuation to finish it.

I also since learned that, apparently, Ike went to Tyler instead of Dallas. He must have gotten lost along the way somewhere. Word is that they had trees down, etc., out Tyler-way. At any rate, we need to be in serious prayer towards all the people where have been affected by this bad storm. I'm hearing people down on the coast will be without power for weeks. That's a lot of people.



Looks like Ike fizzled out before it got to us. Silly weather forecasters...they never learn, do they? In all seriousness, however, it did do some serious damage in the Galveston/Houston area. I'm reading that the roof was mostly torn off of the Reliant Stadium, where the NFL team plays. Reliant is charging us plenty for electricity, though, so they shouldn't have any trouble replacing that.


Psalm for today: Psalm 89:19-52

Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said:
"I have granted help to one who is might;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
so that my hand shall be established with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him;
the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted."
Verses 19-24



Tabletalk Magazine

The King Cometh Unto Thee

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (a borrowed donkey, no less), the people gathered, created a makeshift carpet out of palm branches and shouted "Hosanna!" which is Hebrew for "Save us now." Matthew tells us that this even fulfilled a prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

However, there is a paradox between the high station of Zion's king and the way in which Jesus presented himself. "The king comes not with a show of force; not with a sword girt on His thigh; not on a prancing steed; not riding in a chariot of war. This king comes to make peace, not to wage war."

Jesus is, in a way, signing his own death warrant in this display. He compounds this as his first activity after dismounting is throwing the wicked moneychangers out of the temple foyer, charging them with turning a house of prayer into a den of thieves.

The religious leaders begin taking their frustration out on the children who are singing "Hosanna to the Son of David." Jesus counters this by quoting Psalm 8 to them.

The next even that Matthew gives us is the cursing of the fig tree. The disciples fail to make the connection between this event and the parable of the barren fig tree that Jesus had given them earlier (Luke 13:6-9).

"Christ's cursing of the barren fig tree must be placed in context with the other demonstrations of His unique, God-given authority in this passage. The fig tree is a symbol of the barren, unbelieving church of those times, which was about to fall under the wrath and curse of God. This prompts us to wonder: What if Christ were to draw near to the city in which we live? How would He be received? What corruptions would provoke His righteous wrath? Would our barrenness call down His fatal curse? What neglected ministries of mercy and compassion would He need to restore in our churches? How will we respond when our king comes to us?"

These are all good questions. However, it must be remembered that Jerusalem, capitol city of Israel, was supposed to be based on the worship of God. Fort Worth, Texas is not. So there are certain comparisons that just will not work. Sure, if Jesus walked into Fort Worth today, there would be plenty that he would find wrong. But Fort Worth is not the main city of a nation that is governed by a theocracy. Jesus would not walk into this city expecting to find a city that worships God and follows all his laws. Actually, Jesus didn't walk into Jerusalem expecting that...he knew exactly what he would find. There were no surprises.

Nevertheless, it would not hurt us to ponder the questions posed by this author in Tabletalk. How would we respond if our King came to us in physical form today??



Day 237 in The Message//Remix:Solo

John 8:1-11
Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them.
The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.
Jesus bent down and wrote with his fingers in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.
Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?"
"No one, Master."
"Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin."

Imagine yourself in this crowd. Can you see her face? Possibly not, for she might be trying to hide it. There's a strong possibility that she's stark naked, too. It says she was "caught in the act." This woman was publicly humiliated. But these men didn't care about her. They were interested in one thing only...trapping Jesus. They had no compassion for people whatsoever. How tragic for a "religious leader." And another question...where was the man? You know, the guy with whom she was committing this adultery? She wasn't doing it alone, you know.

Can you hear the condescending voices of the leaders? Makes me sick to hear the tone of voice that they must have been using. The hypocrites.

And then the silence. Silence as Jesus said nothing, bent down, and started writing in the dirt. There might have been a bit of a wind blowing the dust around.

What did he write? No one knows for sure. There have been plenty of guesses. The sins of the individual Pharisees? Their names? How about the names of the women that they had committed adultery with?? Whatever it was, they left. One at a time.

Can you imagine yourself in the place of the woman? Being dragged naked through town to be brought before some stranger? Being accused by the Pharisees? Total humiliation and nowhere to hide. You've been caught in one of the worst sins imaginable, at least in the eyes of man. And they want to kill you.

But this stranger, he has different eyes, doesn't he? He has a different look about him. He writes something in the dirt, and suddenly all of these men turn around and leave you standing there.

Jesus looks up and says, "Where did they go. Does no one condemn you?"

"Neither do I. Go your way and don't sin any more."

Have you ever been caught in a pretty bad sin? I have. It's a terrible feeling. There really is nowhere to hide. You can only face it. "Sorry" doesn't seem to cut it. It's one of the worst feelings I have ever experienced. There is shame. There is sorrow. There is the unforgettable feeling that you have betrayed someone you really love.

Jesus cut through all of that. He forgave this woman, and shut up her human accusers, just as he shuts up our un-human accuser. That's right. Jesus looks at satan in the eye and tells him that we are covered by the blood. We have no accusers. Romans 8:1 says "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

We don't hear from this woman again. Unless she happens to be the one who bathed Jesus's feet in perfume later. But as far as we know, we have no idea what became of her. But I can imagine this encounter changed her life. There are very few people whom Jesus spoke to whose lives did not change forever.



Jesus, I've been guilty of spiritual adultery. I've given attention to things that did not deserve my attention. I have let sin creep in and corrupt my relationship with you. I confess that to you and commit to live what's left of this life for you. These last few days have been pretty amazing. You really got something through to me a few days ago, and it has been taking hold. But I can feel the old stuff trying to make a comeback. Help me build a wall to keep it out. Help me get my prayer life active again. Keep me in your Word daily. I hear you say to me, as you said to this woman, "Neither do I condemn you." But I also hear you say, "From now on don't sin." I hear you. I truly hear you today.


We have all heard it said, "Hate the sin, love the sinner." It's become a cliche, but it is so true, and Jesus proves that in this passage. Adultery is a sin and he did not condone it. However, he did not condemn the sinner. It is not up to us to condemn sinners. That will be Jesus's job in the final judgment. It is up to us to show compassion. It's fine to point out what is sinful, if we can figure out a way to do it lovingly. But how dare we condemn others when we have sinned ourselves?? Who among us is worthy of casting that first stone?

Not me, brother.

Not me.

Grace and peace, friends.



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