We've all heard of the expression: "Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house".  What does this mean"  It is an expression which basically states that we are none of us perfect, and therefore we must not judge others when we are able to be judged ourselves.  A variation of this expression is seen in the saying: "Always keep your words sweet, because one day you may have to eat them."  Both of these expressions are derived from the Bible story which we study today from John 8:1-11.

This story describes a situation where Jesus is arriving in the mount of olives.  Jesus is in the town teaching when some of the locals bring a woman before Him.  She has apparently been caught in the act of adultery and has been brought before Jesus Christ to be judged and rebuked.  The people quote the "law of Moses" and claim that according to this law, she must be stoned to death.  You see, Jesus was not an old-testament thinker.  He is the new covernant.  The scripture states that the primary reason why the people brought this woman before Jesus was not necessarily because they needed His help to acrry out a sentence, but rather to test His resolve and to see if he held true to what they believed to be law.  At this time, Jesus knelt down and began to write in the sand with his finger tip.  I sometimes find myself wondering what it was that he was writting.  The scripture does not ellaborate, but I think that it must have been relevant.  Perhaps he was writting the names of the the accuser's mistresses in the sand *smiles*.  In any case, Jesus replies: If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."  He then continued to write in the sand.

Needless to say, the woman was not stoned to death.  In fact, she wasn't even harmed.  Jesus forgave her and commanded her to leave behind her life of sin.  He forgave the woman that the people had condemned!  This woman turned out to be Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' most well known followers. What is Jesus had agreed with the people and had her put to death for her human frailties"  What a loss of potential.  You know it says in Luke 15:7 that there is more rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents, than ninety-nine people who do not need to repent.  

We are none of us perfect, and therefore none of us can judge another for the dins of our humanity.  Jesus forgives us even though we are not worthy of earthly mercy.  Although this is true, we must not grow slack and give up on being all that God has called us to be.  Jesus died and rose again to defeat our sins, not that we would take such a gift for granted, but that we can learn from our past sins and grow to be better and everything which Jesus has given us potential to be!

So let go of that grudge which has been holding you back for so long!  If someone has wronged you, let it go and you will see the difference in your life.  Let go of the burdens of guilt and anger and give it all to the Lord God.  Repent and move on in better strides and rely on the Lord to be your guide!

In life we find many battles and many opportunities to become discouraged.  Our battles are often physical, but in Christian life we are faced with spiritual battles also.

Spiritual battles come in many forms.  Spiritual battles can simply be temptations in life.  Should I be a rebel and do things my own way"  Should I take drugs just becasue everyone else is"  Should I sleep with someone I just met because they seem right"  We are faced with worldly temptation in life.  Sppiritual battles are also seen in attacks from the dark enemy in our minds.  Paul describes it this way:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."  (Ephesians 6:10-18)

 

The place where the enemy likes to hit us hardest is in our minds.  But bare in mind, that the enemy will only have power over us if we let him.  It is up to us to guard our minds and think only on the things of God.  Jesus told us to "turn our eyes upon Him".  Why is this"  Because we can't focus on twwo things at once.  If we fill our lives with the things of God, there will be no room foor anything else.

What are the things of God"

-Truth

-Beauty

-Love

-Understanding

-Mercy

-Compassion.

-Righteousness.

Arm yourselves with the things of God and know that he is with you no matter what you battle may be.  "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."  (Psalm 23:4)

Also, remember that Jesus defeated the enemy on the cross and through His ressurection a little over 2000 years ago!  You are not able to fight the enemy alone, but with Jesus Christ in your heart you have already one in advance.  All God needs you to do is stand strong in your faith and Godly wisdom.  

So when the enemy attacks, stand firm and say: "I AM a child of the most high God and by his authority I command you to get behind me in Jesus name!"  Never ever under estimate the power of the mighty name of "JESUS"!

God said that when the enemy comes riushing in like a flood, his Holy Spirit will raise up a barrier.  He said that since he is with us, who would dare to be against us"

 

God bless!

I believe that Jesus tells us to "love our neighbour" and not to condemn, because this is the only way for us to treat eachother as equal. 

If we consider ourselves worthy to judge others and place ourselves in a position where we consider our own needs above those of all others, then we are behaving like the world and not like the people of God.

You see it is our duty to set an example for those who do not know the Lord. If we say we are of God, and treat the poor and needy as though they are below us, then we are hypocrits.  If we place ourselves in their shoes, then we will give without reservation.

Another situation to ponder people!  Around a month ago, I re-dedicated my life to the Lord.  It has been a trying and at times indescribable experience as I rediscovered what I feel I may have lost some time ago. 

Each and every one of us who are covered by the blood of Jesus Chrsit, are dangerous to the forces of darkness in this world.  Satan does not want you to have the Lord's favour and I have discovered that the primary "arena" in which he likes to operate is our minds!  I have recently experienced a period of time where I have found myself reliving the sins of my past.  And, in retrospect I have learned that there were many aspects to my past sins which I was blind to at the time.  You see, not only does Satan seek to lead us to sin, but he seeks to keep us there with guilt and condemnation.

God's love for us is SO great and unimaginable that we cannot comprehend how he can simply blot out our sins and whip them away forever! 

 “He has done this through the death on the cross of His own human body, and now as a result Christ has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are standing before Him with nothing left against you—nothing left that He could even chide you for” (Col 1:22)

Satan is described in the Book Of Revelations as the "accuser of the bretheren".  He's purpose in accusing us is to separate us from God.  If we feel low within ourselves, this causes us to draw away from God.  But, this is exactly what we must not do! Psalm 73:28 says: "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."

So, stand strong in what you know that gospel says about you!  You are only clay and you are not perfect, but through the sacrifice and victory of Christ, you are made clean of all transgressions!  You may make mistakes, and things may go wrong for you, but you ARE the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!  Stand tall in authority!  Let go of your sins and mistakes which have been forgiven and stand stordy against the enemy.  Know the tricks of the enemy so that you will not fall victim to them!  I have found that the workings of the enemy are clever and many, but know this: If it is something which makes you doubt God or urself, and if it is something which draws away from what the bible teaches; then it is the work of the enemy and must be ignored!

Good life family!