God’s Heart to Meet with Man: the Woman Caught in Adultery..... Craig Denison

 God’s Heart to Meet with Man: the Woman Caught in Adultery

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

Throughout Scripture we see countless examples of God meeting with man and countless lives being transformed as the result. These examples are in Scripture to stir our faith and fill us with a desire to meet with our Creator. When we read about the life of David, we should be filled with a longing to live as he did, centered around meeting with our heavenly Father. When we read about Gideon or Moses, we should long to know our God as they did. When we read about Jesus coming down to us or his heart for the woman caught in adultery, we should respond by pursuing encounters with our Savior. And when we read of Pentecost and Jesus’ second coming, we should seek out the fullness of God’s presence available to us on this earth in preparation for the age that is to come. May your heart be filled with a wholehearted desire to pursue meeting with God this week.

Scripture:“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7

Devotional:

The story of the woman caught in adultery is one the most powerful depictions of God’s heart to meet man in the midst of sin and show grace. Scripture says,

Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:2-11          

When I find myself in the midst of sin, my first instinct is to run away from God. For some reason we seem to hold this belief that God is like us: that he loves us like we love ourselves. I assume he’s even more ashamed of me than I am of myself. I assume he’s distanced himself from me in my sin. I assume that he can’t be near to me or that his grace surely isn’t strong enough for my sin this time. But Jesus’ actions when presented with the woman caught in adultery completely obliterate my worldly perceptions of his grace.

Imagine the fear this woman feels. Imagine the horrific embarrassment and shame she feels being caught in the act of terrible sin and dragged before Jesus, God incarnate. Put yourself in her position. Feel the piercing glares of onlookers. Try and hear the terrible judgements being hurled your way by these religious leaders.

Now imagine Jesus standing before you, drawing in the sand as he did that day. Imagine what he would say to you in your sin. He doesn’t seem surprised. He doesn’t seem worried. He doesn’t even cast judgment on you. Instead, he shows you the fullness of grace for your sin.

God longs to cast away all the lies the accuser would speak to you. He longs to cause all the judgments you speak over yourself and that others have spoken over you to flee in light of his powerful grace. Jesus stands before you today with nail-pierced hands having fully paid the price for each one of your sins. He’s ready to empower you to “Go, and from now on sin no more” by his love and grace. Receive his love today. Allow him to meet you in the midst of your sin. Run into his arms instead of away from him. And live empowered to experience the fullness of his presence and total freedom from sin.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s heart to meet us in our sin as displayed through the woman caught in adultery.

“Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’ This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’  And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’” John 8:2-11

2. Where are you closing off your heart to God as the result of your sin? Where do you feel unloveable? Where have lies and accusations caused you to withdraw yourself from God rather than run to him?

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

3. Take time to receive the grace, forgiveness, and love of your heavenly Father. Confess your sin to him and rest in his loving presence. Be filled with the power of his grace that you might walk in freedom today.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

May 1 John 2:1-2 fill you with faith to run to Jesus with your sin rather than away from him in shame or judgment:

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Extended Reading: Romans 8

Why You Need To Let Go..... CHRYSTAL EVANS HURST

 Why You Need To Let Go

CHRYSTAL EVANS HURST

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2 (NASB)

I knew God was leading me to resign.

But I didn’t want to.

I had been leading an area of women’s ministry in my church for years, and I could sense my time serving in that leadership role was coming to an end. This ministry space had been a great place to be planted, to grow, to develop and to nurture and mentor others. Not only had I enjoyed giving direction and vision, but I also had gotten comfortable. This ministry and the people I served with felt like “home.”

It wasn’t too long before the opportunity to lead came to an end. Structural changes at my church resulted in the end of my ministry area and role. Apparently, comfortable is not what God wanted me to be.

God obviously knew about other opportunities and challenges that were coming in my life. He had been prompting me to release the time I was spending pouring into that ministry role because there were other places He wanted me to serve.

He also knew I needed less responsibility in my life because there were hard places and spaces I needed to show up for in the lives of my family members. Had I needed to care for my husband and children in their time of need and also lead in the ministry, I would have done neither well.

Can I just tell you that this happens in my life a lot? I hate being pruned. I don’t like when I’m blooming in an area of my life and I sense God is leading me to let something or someone go.

I much prefer to leave things the way they are. I like being comfortable, but my comfort is not God’s primary concern. He is interested in my growth. He desires to see me bloom, to produce a harvest and to bear fruit in my life. Conforming to the image of Christ means learning to trust that my Father in heaven is constantly looking at the landscape of my life and seeing what areas of my life need to be cut back in order for me to grow.

Over the years, I’ve seen this play out in a variety of ways. I’ve had to leave jobs where I found success, houses where I made memories, and even people I thought I couldn’t live without. Every single time, the “cut” hurt. It wasn’t comfortable. The pruning in my life left me feeling bare, empty and disconnected from the very people or places that brought me life.

But every single time, the letting go of one thing left room for something else.

This is illustrated in our key verse, John 15:2: “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

Instead of fighting against God’s plan to prune me, I’ve learned letting people go leaves room for new and wonderful connections. I learned that new neighborhoods bring new friends and new traditions. And I’ve learned God plans a much better career path for me than I could plan for myself.

We may not enjoy the pruning process, but God is the great gardener who knows how to get results. Just like pruning a plant keeps the plant healthy and makes room for new growth, God’s pruning in our lives brings health we may not know we need and creates space for adventures we know nothing about.

Unlike plants, people fight back. We are creatures with free will who debate God’s goodness in our lives when He shows up with shears.

Let me encourage you to release your will and submit yourself to God’s pruning work. Whatever you are holding on to, release it. Trust that the Lord, who loves you and planted you on this planet to begin with, only wants you to let go so there is room in your life to experience a more beautiful bloom.

Dear Lord, it’s hard to let go of our plans, dreams, activities, ministries, careers and people. Would You make it clear when it’s Your will for us to submit to Your pruning work in our life? Give us grace and help us be brave enough to let go and allow You to change us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

3 Reasons to Worship God in the Barrenness..... By Jennifer Waddle

 3 Reasons to Worship God in the Barrenness

By Jennifer Waddle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. - Habakkuk 3:17-18

Worship is not only an expression of the soul to our loving Creator, it is also a choice. For in times of ease, we find it delightful to lift hands of praise. But in times of hardship, we struggle to even find the strength to worship.

As life sometimes takes on the form of barrenness, through empty womb or lonely heart, finding joy in the God of our salvation can be challenging. Rejoicing in the emptiness can feel counterintuitive, but it is the exact thing needed for the journey.

God is in the barrenness. We have to believe that, even when we don’t feel it. For without Him, there is no hope.

“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7

Here and now, in the midst of the “lonely,” the Lord is worthy to be praised. He is still on the throne and He is good. Above every situation, He remains steadfast and holy.

Do we believe that?

Here are 3 reasons to worship God in the barrenness.

1. God has a divine purpose for every season.

There is a foundational and divine purpose for everything we are allowed to go through in this life. That isn’t an easy truth to accept, but it is necessary for rising above the pain, enough to praise God through it.

Remember, the enemy wants to steal our praise. And in the midst of intense trial, he will pounce on our vulnerabilities and lie to us concerning God’s divine purpose. However, when we declare that God is Sovereign over every situation, we can then look upward instead of inward, and worship Him in the barrenness.

To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

2. Jesus is our First Love.

I’m afraid it is part of human nature to love ourselves the most. Self-centeredness is a struggle for even the most serving of hearts. Especially when we face difficult seasons, our attention is quickly turned inward. Almost by default, we strive to make the “uncomfortable” go away.

Therefore, it is crucial to remember our “First Love” in times of barrenness. By loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, we will still be able to worship no matter what comes.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 ESV

3. God will turn our mourning into dancing.

Barrenness is but a season, a painful time of yearning and wandering. But God is faithful. He is with us in it and He sees us through it. No matter how long the road seems, how dark the night is, there is joy in the morning. The Lord turns every sorrow into rejoicing and our mourning into dancing.

For I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13

Choosing to worship in times of barrenness is a beautiful and sacrificial act of love and obedience to a worthy Creator. By loving Him with our whole heart, and knowing His divine purpose exceeds our current circumstances, we will indeed dance with joy again.

God is Present..... by Boyd Bailey

 God is Present

by Boyd Bailey

There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous. Psalm 14:5

God is present in your predicament. You don’t have to pray, “God be with us”; He’s there already. He’s there because He cares. He’s there because you are extremely valuable to Him. God cherishes His children. He loves to give His own good gifts (Matthew 7:11). His presence alone is a present. He’s present to give wisdom. He’s present to give you direction. He’s present to give you courage. In His presence there is peace. He is ever present.

God’s presence is there to calm and convict us. His peace is what propels us forward by faith. Don’t give up on doing the right thing. Sinful compromise for short-term satisfaction never ends well. Why put your family at risk by running after forbidden fruit? God hasn’t left you. He doesn’t wink at wicked deeds. He’s right by your side to see you through this sinful temptation. Indeed the fruit of His presence is the fear of God. He reminds us to remain pure.

“How then could I [Joseph] do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).

His presence is made manifest in a company of Christ followers. In community, the body of Christ is in full expression. Sin pushes us to seclusion. It’s an illusion to think we can isolate ourselves from Almighty God. But in authentic community there’s nowhere to hide. In the presence of committed Christ followers, we feed our faith. Don’t fight temptation alone. Tell someone. Stay engaged with the righteous. This is the presence of God personified.

Stay in the presence of God-fearing followers. This time of engagement with others facilitates our alone time with our heavenly Father. Stay hard after your heavenly Father in solitude and prayer. His presence is inviting you into intimacy. Design your life around a daily retreat into His presence. Look into His face and feel His love. In His presence He provides just what we need in the moment. Therefore persevere in prayer without ceasing. Be present in His presence!

“God is our refuge and strength, 
an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

What does it mean for the Spirit to be ever-present? How does the Spirit strengthen my spirit?

Related Readings
Genesis 4:16; Numbers 20:9; Jeremiah 52:3; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews

A Prayer for Those Weary from Spiritual Battle..... By: Maggie Meadows Cooper

 A Prayer for Those Weary from Spiritual Battle

By: Maggie Meadows Cooper

My heart has been heavy for someone I love in recent months. The prayers have been endless. The constant hamster wheel of ideas turning in my mind of how to be supportive. The weight on my chest has been so heavy that at times it feels hard to breathe. And it is fully evident that this battle is not able to be won with earthly strength alone.

The enemy is a master manipulator. A liar, evil, devious, and relentless in his pursuit of those who are trying to break chains and grow closer to the Lord. He knows where to hit them hardest. And he knows where to hit everyone in their circle hardest. His ploy is to wear us down so that all seems lost. All seems hopeless. And faith can be replaced with anger, bitterness, and resentment over what should have been instead of even more fervent prayers.

My sweet friends, whether you are going to battle for someone you love, or for yourself, here are five things from 2 Chronicles 20 the Lord showed me we must remember when our hearts grow weary:

1. When we don’t know what else to do, look to Jesus.

“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” - 2 Chronicles 20:12

Y’all, there have been so many prayers for open and closed doors, for wisdom and discernment, for the right people to be in place at the right time. And there are times earthly doors have been opened…only to be closed. Steps forward…that quickly became steps backward. And I didn’t know what else to do. But Jesus does. No matter what your “mighty army” may be, do not forget that His resources are endless. His plans are good. And His timing is perfect. When you don’t know what else to do, cry out to Jesus.

2. The battle is not ours, but God’s.

“He (Jahaziel) said, “This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” - 2 Chronicles 20:15 

If you are like me, you try to carry all of the burdens in your own life and those of the ones you love, around. You pick them up, pile them on, sling some over your shoulder in a backpack, and trudge along until you can’t take one more step. But y’all, we were never meant to go to battle alone. We are God’s…and the battles are His. Surrender to Him. Trust Him to do what He says He will do. He is faithful.

3. We are not alone!

“Tomorrow, march out against them…But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you.”- 2 Chronicles 20:16,17

So many times in my life, I have heard the Lord whisper, “I’m right here.” But I’m embarrassed to admit that it hasn’t always been a comfort. When my baby refused to sleep through the night, and I was begging God to help her rest as I cried by her crib, I heard him say, “I’m right here.” But I quickly snapped back, “Then do something!” Some of you may have been in that same place. But let me encourage you that He is doing something…always working (John 5:17)…even when we can’t see it. Lay down your weapons. Stand still. And allow the Lord’s presence to be enough for the moment.

4. Worship God with prayers and praise, before the battle is won.

“Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord. Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.” 2 Chronicles 20:18,19

When I am discouraged and weary, worship may be the last thing on my mind. I don’t feel like praising the Lord for something that hasn’t happened yet. It can become difficult to celebrate small victories when the big one is so very distant. But if we are going to stand firm, we must believe in the Lord’s faithfulness and worship Him, not because of what we want Him to do, but because of what He’s already done, my sweet friends. Praise Him and sing out to Him as they did that day, “Give thanks to the Lord, His faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 20:21)

5. Prepare your heart to meet in the Valley of Blessing when the battle is finished.

“On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there.” 2 Chronicles 20: 26

The people of Judah were victorious that day as they gathered and praised the Lord. I pray our outcomes will be the same, but the truth is that I don’t know how our battles will end. Many years ago, I committed to praising the Lord in the good…and in the bad. And the truth is, I’ve had to do both. One is harder than the other. But no matter the outcome of the battle you are facing, God is still God. And He is still good. So, praying and believing for victory in Jesus’ name, I will prepare to meet the Lord in my own Valley of Blessing after each battle I face. And I pray you will too.

Dear Jesus,

The battle I am facing seems impossible to win. Help me to look to you when I don’t know what else to do. Help me to remember that the battle is yours, I am never alone, and that there is power in your name. Give me a desire to worship you, even when I don’t feel like it. And prepare my heart to stand firm, give thanks, and praise you, no matter the outcome.

 In your mighty name,

Amen!