Confronting Condemnation

She grabbed her robes and ran. The angry self-righteous crowd followed her, screaming condemnation, so as to make a public spectacle of her secret shame. No one thought of the men who were probably with her as she was caught red handed in her guilt. This would make a great case to trump the theology of the Man Who was roaming their streets, claiming to be God's Own Son. This Man, Jesus was changing lives and bringing freedom to the ones who were in their grasp of condemnation. The signs of healings, deliverances and dead people being raised were sure confirmation of His claims. This, they thought, was their chance for a show-down.

"4 Teacher, they said, this woman has been caught in the very act of adultery.5 Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such [women—offenders] shall be stoned to death. But what do You say [to do with her—what is Your sentence]?" John 8:4-5 [Amplified Bible]

Their eyes might have glistened as they awaited His reply.

"7 He raised Himself up and said, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:7 [Amplified Bible]

With these words, NO ONE stood a chance to raise a finger at the woman. Every condemning voice rendered silent.

Turning to the woman, "... Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more."

The only One who could condemn her - did not.

If you believe in the death and resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ as a payment for your sins - then stop guilt and condemnation from ruling your life.

"13 And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,

14 Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared [j]completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.

15 [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]." Colossians 2:13-15[Amplified Bible]

The enemy has no weapon and no document against you. Don't believe his lies that condemn and strike our hearts with fear. These are decoys, bringing us into inaction for the purposes of Christ. This is what the enemy wants! Inaction, being afraid to be like Jesus, changing lives of people around you through your talents, your gifts which God has purposefully placed in you.

"Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]." Hebrew 4:16[Amplified Bible]

Let us be and do everything God called us to do!

You Smell Like Jesus!

John 12:3 [AMP]"Mary took a pound of ointment of pure liquid nard [a rare perfume] that was very expensive, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."

What woman does not treasure her perfume and her hair. These are perhaps the most dearly loved possessions a woman can have. Yet, Mary pours out a pound of her most expensive perfume on Jesus' feet and wipes them with her hair. People in the room are disgruntled at such a show of wastefulness. It was worth a year's wages you see!
While this did not make sense to the people in the room, it meant so much more to Mary and her Master, Jesus. For her, compared to Jesus, the perfume was like water. For her, Jesus' glory far outweighed the glory of her hair. What Jesus had done for her and her family could not be compared to these base things. She demonstrated unashamedly to this crowd, that her most valuable possessions are of no value when compared to Jesus. An act of great humility and gratitude. When Judas raised his voice against her, "Jesus said, Let her alone. It was [intended] that she should keep it for the time of My preparation for burial. [She has kept it that she might have it for the time of My [a]embalming.]" (John 12:7 [AMP]) No one else in the room could appreciate this, but Jesus knew Mary's heart and He received it wholeheartedly.
Likewise, in our lives, when we bring our most expensive offerings to worship Jesus, it may not make sense to the people around us. They would perhaps have us use our talents, our gifts on another recognizable noble cause. But Jesus approves that one act, that moves our heart in obedience to God's will and intentions. Notice what Jesus said about Mary's act - "it was intended". It is intended in God's grand plan, that you do the outrageous acts of worship for Jesus.  It will not make sense to people that you would walk away from a lucrative deal, a great fortune, a stage performance to serve in a place of humility, but in God's plan there is greater glory.
Now imagine this with me. As Mary worshiped Jesus with perfume, the fragrance filled her house. Later, when Mary would follow Jesus into Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover, people would turn around and say to her - "Hey! You smell like Jesus!" Yes, your act of worship, that God has intended for you since the beginning of time, has the power to fill your home with fragrance, to anoint your head with scent and become an aroma pleasing to God.

Made in His Image!

We are an incredible creation. The biggest and most amazing characteristic we have is this : We are made in the image of God.

Genesis 1:26(AMP)

God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.

Have you been praying for a loved one who does not know Jesus? Has it been a very long time and there seems to be no evidence of any change in the horizon? Take heart God has a way to let them know that they belong to Him!

Yesterday, as I was praying for my loved ones, I kept hearing this in my heart, "You are all made in His(God's) image, and the more you allow Jesus to be seen in and through you, they will know Me. They will see Me in you and begin to recognize themselves."

I argued with this thought saying, "But they don't know you. They have only known you as just another god like the thousands they already follow. How will they recognize that Jesus loves them and that they really do belong to God? That when I pray for them, it is truly You Who blesses them. How will they know that it is You who is working in their lives? " The Holy Spirit said, "They will know because they are all created in the image of God and when you show them by being the living breathing, walking mirror of God's Word they will recognize themselves as they really are!"

When I started ruminating on this thought, my jaw dropped! I was filled with awe as I began to understand slowly. That when I see myself in the mirror, I know what I look like.  Even when there are many others who stand by my side and I can see their reflection in the mirror, I know what I look like. I know by looking at my hair whether it needs fixing, whether my lips need more color, whether I need a shower! I do not look at someone else's mirror image and try to fix my makeup! I know what I look like! As simple as that.

The key is "They don't know Who they look like, for they have never been shown the mirror of God's Word!"

Let us pray that God would help us in being this mirror - walking, living, breathing demonstrating amazing mirror of the Word of God, so people can look at + through us and see Jesus and the more they look they will begin to recognize their image - the image of God their Creator! They will  be awakened from their lies and dementia and find out how beautifully and wonderfully they have been made. A masterpiece creation of their Father in heaven! Let us continue praying that God's family be restored to Him!

1 Corinthians 13:12

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹² For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as ^[a]in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand ^[b]fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been ^[c]fully and clearly known and understood [^[d]by God].