Today’s Reading:
John 8:1-11
“So, when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. … Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (vv. 7-11 AKJV)
We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We thank God for giving us His only Son as a sweet-smelling sacrifice as atonement for our sin. For while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for our sins. This points to the compassion of God.
In the Old Testament, the law of Moses had strict rules, especially regarding sexuality (Ex. 20:14). The punishment for adultery was death by stoning, for both the man and the woman (Lev. 20:1)). The religious leaders of His time, happily thought they could trap Jesus. They publicly confronted Him with a dilemma of the case of a woman caught in the act of adultery. They asked Him what should be done about it. If Jesus had confirmed the death penalty, His compassion would have been faulted, and if he refused to confirm the penalty, He would be condemned of contradicting God’s law. In His usual manner borne out of wisdom, He shifted the case to the woman’s accusers because the law also required the witnesses to cast the first stone for a capital punishment like this. Shame is a dreadful torture. It follows us wherever we go like a soiled wrapping sheet. It straps to our torturous pasts and puts everything embarrassingly on display. Feelings of shame put its victim into a tight corner, and into the shadows of the society. And a relentless accusing inner voice of the accuser keeps whispering ‘You are a worthless sinner’. The remnant disgrace that lingers holds tightly to the accused like a vice.
But in this dispensation of grace, the scar of the shame does not need to linger permanently. Christ is willing to meet us at the darkest corners in order to redeem our dignity and worth. He is our Saviour and our Redeemer. For this purpose, the son of God was made manifest, to destroy the works of Satan and set us free. His grace is greater than our shame. He became for us the One who personally bears our shame on the cross, and walks with us through our harsh, agonizing moments when we felt lonely and gripped with fear.
There is no limit to the depth of the shame God would not see us through, regardless of the gravity. There is no limit to the grace our Saviour will supply us. Have you surrendered your life to the lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ? If you have not, you need to for Him to carry the burden of your shameful sin, and redeem your dignity and worth with many more benefits.
If you are willing, you can repeat these prayers after me. “Father, thank you for Jesus Christ. I ask for forgiveness of my sin, Lord Jesus, I surrender my body soul and spirit to you. Take total control of my life. Holy Spirit, I invite you into my life, lead and guide me secured from all harm in Jesus’ name. Father thank you for all that repeated the prayer. I hand them over to your fatherly care and guidance. Lead them to a living church where they would be nurtured to maturity in Christ. And to you who have said those prayers, I congratulate you, you have made a wise decision.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Father, thank You for giving us Your Son Jesus Christ as atonement for our sins, in Jesus’ name.
Thank You for the salvation of our souls, in Jesus’ name.
Thank You for producing spiritual fruits in us, in Jesus’ name.
Father, create in me a clean heart, renew a right and teachable spirit within me in Jesus’ name.
By the power in the blood of Jesus, I come against the spirit of ani-Christ working against our nation, and I command it to be permanently frustrated, in Jesus’ name.
Every evil establishment and satanic tree in our nation, be uprooted and be cast into fire, in Jesus’ name.
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