Devotion
Who’s the Judge
Frances Taylor
We are so like the men in this passage from John. Quick to judge and we want that person punished. There's a saying, "People who live in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones." Jesus knew what was in the hearts of the people who accused the woman caught in adultery. He wasn't going to play their game. In the Gospel, the men walked away, beginning with the oldest. But we know people – and maybe ourselves at times – that call out the secrets sins of others while trying to pretend we have blameless lives. I believe that every one of us has something they would like to hide. It could be a youthful indiscretion or something more current, but we all have something. Would we like to be judged in the same way that we judge others? I'm sure we can find excuses for any of our behaviors, and may not consider them sins, because we can justify them. Don't we realize that the people we're judging also have reasons for their behavior as well?
In the Gospel story, there's no mention of the man she was caught with – in the very act – just her. In that day, a woman alone couldn't work and could be cast out of her husband's home if he so chose. Maybe that was the only way she could have a place to live or food on her table. We'll never know. And maybe we shouldn't worry about judging our neighbor either. Who's the judge? The answer to that is simple – God. Since we are not God, we don't have the right to judge.
Prayer
O Lord we can be cruel to others. Remind us often of your golden rule – do unto others only that which you would want done to you. Amen.
Devotion
Spy Wednesday
Frances Taylor
What price do I place on Jesus' head? For Judas it was thirty pieces of silver. I know you're thinking, "Not me!" Stop and think: when was the last time you chose your needs over that of your family? I'm sure you know people just as I do, whose pay check is not always spent on food, rent or mortgage. These are people who gamble, drink, use drugs, of other forms of entertainment and waste the monies that should be used for their families. This is the price that they place on Jesus' head.
For some, money is the god, as it was for Judas. For others, it's fame or pleasure. For others, it's just indifference or apathy. No one sits down and says that their actions, or non-actions, are betrayals of Jesus. But they are. There are other times when we make a choice that goes against everything we say we believe. Whatever the reason for doing this, we suffer the same sense of guilt that Judas felt when he fully realized the consequences of his behavior. Judas ...
Morning Prayer
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Inspiration
Timothy was a pastor, appointed by Paul to care for a congregation of God's people. He was an "elder, " but was not especially "elderly. " Some might be tempted not to listen to him because of his youth and presumed lack of wisdom. But Paul instructs him to preach God's Word boldy and to live out an example all of God's people could desire to emulate.
Prayer
Let us have respect to your Word, O Lord, and not so much to the men who preach or teach it. If we see a Christian living a holy example and teaching us the great truths found in your Book, let us not distrust him because of his youth but rejoice in what God is doing with him. Let us also be quick to learn from and benefit from such a minister of the Gospel. Amen.
Night Prayer
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Inspiration
Sometimes, we needlessly complicate our faith, and that can quickly put us on the wrong path. Fad teachings and new doctrines seem to emerge every day, but we already have God’s word and we already have the Lord’s Supper. We need not reinvent our faith with extraneous rituals, they only lead to polluted doctrine. Instead, let us hold to the simple gatherings and foundational truth that we have already been given.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to me in Your word, and thank You for the simple communion that I share with my fellow believers. Please work in these things to build me up, so that I may be satisfied in You. Give me the wisdom to discern unsound doctrine, so that I may remain steadfast in Your truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
