Today's Soul Food — April 9
 

April 9

"`Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared." John 8:11.

Jesus could have so easily declared the death sentence! But He who is so tender and loving gave this woman another chance. How much comfort and hope there is for us in this great passage. "If God is for us, who is against us?...Who will bring a charge against God's elect?" Romans 8:31,33. Mary became one of God's elect because Jesus showed mercy rather than condemnation. Should we not follow His example and show forbearance to others? We are sinners, too, so why should we point out the tiny speck when we carry a beam of sin ourselves? "Love covers all transgressions" (Proverbs 10:112b) so let us rather love one another than condemn, whether the facts are true or not.

Notice Christ's way of dealing with Peter when he cursed and lied the night that he should have supported his Friend. "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter" Luke 22:61. He didn't scold him; Jesus, by a tender look, brought to Peter's mind what a terrible deed he had done to His Lord. Even at the time of His own terrible suffering of mind and body, Jesus shows that He has not forgotten the pain Peter is enduring, too. And after the resurrection He utters not a single word of condemnation to His friend Peter.

"To him who overcomes...I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone..." Revelation 2:17b. The ancient custom was to give a white stone to the acquitted and a black stone to the condemned. The white stone is the stone of salvation, and the new name is not a fresh name of itself, but a fresh revelation of God and His nature. Surely both Mary and Peter were given fresh revelations of God's nature through His forgiveness of their sins. These are beautiful stories of the exquisite love and understanding of a lovely Savior!

Pat Nordman ©

Today's Bible Question ?

Who was the runaway slave that went back to his master?

Previous question and Answer: When Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Melita he stayed with the chief man of the island. What was the name of this man? Answer: Publius Acts 28:1,7 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. ... In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.(KJV)

T H I N K A B O U T I T

Take the Sting   A boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon, when a bumblebee flew in the car window. The little boy, who was allergic to bee stings, was petrified. The father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it in his hand, and then released it. The boy grew frantic as it buzzed by him. Once again the father reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to his palm. There stuck in his skin was the stinger of the bee. "Do you see this?" he asked. "You don't need to be afraid anymore. I've taken the sting for you." We do not need to fear death anymore. Christ has died and risen again. He has taken the sting from death.  -- Adrian Dieleman, Waupun, Wisconsin. Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 1.  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

 

Today's  Devotion

Out of This World   My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. John 17:15

Jesus doesn't want us out of this world; He wants the devil out of us. He doesn't ask His Father that we be kept people: kept from the ills that touch everyone's life. After all, "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45). So if we enjoy the positives in life, we will also have to endure the negatives. Even Job, In the midst of every negative possible in his life, said to his aggrieved and complaining wife, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10). Just because we are Christians doesn't mean we are to be spared sorrows and suffering. Jesus prays that we will be protected from sin, the greatest evil of all. Edward Taylor wrote, "My sin is red: I'm under God's arrest." Satan is colored red, and he is the person and personification of sin. But God has promised, "He who overcomes will be dressed in white" (Revelation 3:5). "Always be clothed with white" (Ecclesiastes 9:8). White garments in the East were considered symbols of joy and purity. We are under God's rest when clothed in white! But how are we kept from the epidemic of evil? We are clothed in white by going to the stronghold, God's Word. Here is our sanctuary. The world has many disguises and disgusts, and it is only with the help of the Holy Spirit that we can discern and disengage from what hurts God and ourselves. "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Matthew 16:23). We have the mind and nature of the world, yes. But Jesus prays for us to remain in the world and yet not be a part of its offenses. A firm "Get behind me, Satan," will help us to remain a decent force for good. © Cathy Vinson

We have the mind and nature of the world, yes. But Jesus prays for us to remain in the world and yet not be a part of its offenses.

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