The Beauty of Grace - Sulo Moorthy

I do not know how many times I had read the familiar story of the woman caught in adultery in John chapter 8, but a week ago when I read through the passage, especially the line where Jesus was  saying to the woman, "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and and leave your life of sin," I was deeply touched by its beauty. I wrote down in my journal that day, "In my mind that's the most beautiful words anyone could have said to a woman caught in the act of sin. Never before in Jewish history had anyone let go an adulterous woman free like that."

 The Law required any adulterer or adulteress to be put to death (Leviticus20:10.) The scribes and the leaders of the Law who dragged the woman and brought her before Jesus knew the scripture well enough to accuse and humiliate her before the crowd. Self-righteousness must have blinded their eyes to make them feel superior, and  to be insensitive to woman's plea for pity. To their shock, the Law Giver chose Grace over judgement, and made them to face their own guilt. Little did they realize that in God's eyes, the sins they harbor in their hearts looked no different from the sin the woman had committed. At that place, Jesus revealed the tender heart of God for all generations to see.

I wonder what Jesus would say to those who call themselves Christians, but who stand on street corners carrying huge banners that say " God hates Gays and He laughs when Gays die" or to those people who mock and condemn those who act differently, worship differently or think differently.

Jesus, who chose to dine and fellowship with tax collectors and outcasts of the society in order to bring them into His fold, surely expects  His followers to extend  grace to those who need it. Judgement belongs to Christ alone.  Let us be cautious to  not to cross the boundary line, and  declare in our self-righteousness, who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. That right belongs to our Saviour, who bled profusely on the Cross at Calvary to save all mankind. 

Calvary love speaks of nothing, but Amazing Grace. The agony of hanging on the cross with parched throat, and nail pierced limbs, and thorns pricked forehead, didn’t make the King of kings to curse the thief who scoffed at Him, or ignore the other thief who asked for forgiveness at the last hour of his life. That is Grace! Pure and beautiful. We, who are saved by His beautiful grace are called to wriggle out of  self-righteous attitude and show grace to all who need it. Because Grace is so beautiful, it would captivate those whom we minister, and drive them towards the One who displayed Amazing Grace on Calvary!

Humility - Janis Cox

I admit it – I don’t like this word – humility. It sounds wimpy. Whenever I hear the word I get frustrated because I don’t like to admit weakness. When I want something done I look for strength to pull me through – mine or God’s strength – but certainly not humility.

But I am learning more about what God means when He uses this word.

“Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:6).

That doesn’t sound as bad, does it? If I can put myself lower, show Christ, then God will exalt me later.

There are three things that keep me from attaining humility – self-righteousness, judgment and control.

When someone takes me to task for something that I have not done, my first notion is to get upset and try to right the wrong. Sometimes this would lead to words, not nice words either. A new way of dealing with this is to step back, let the harangue continue until spent, then don’t say a word. Something happens inside me when I work this way. My spirit stays calm, my peace stays secure and the other person feels perplexed. What just happened they say?

Lack of humility comes from being self-centred. I see that now.

Even in my judgment of others this rings true. I know I should not judge others because God will judge me in a harsher manner. Oswald Chambers (June 22) says succinctly I have no right to judge.

“The great characteristic of a saint is humility - Yes, all those things and other evils would have been manifested in me but for the grace of God, therefore I have no right to judge.”

So judgment is wound up in humility as well.

Then there is control. I like to be in control. I am a task-oriented person. Give me something to do, run or figure out and I will do it to the best of my ability. This, too, rubs against the ways of God. He wants to be in control, not me. So I need to push down my controlling nature – let God show me the way.

In all three, self-righteousness, judgment and control I am insisting on my own rights. And every time I do that I hurt the Son of God.

Oswald Chambers (July 14) says:

"Never look for right in the other man but never cease to be right yourself."

Here is the kick in the pants I need.

He also says (July 15):

"Quit praying about yourself and be spent for others as the bondslave of Jesus."

Identifying the problem helps me to know what to work towards.

How are you on the humility scale?

..........................................

Jan Cox



Jan, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number of articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She also writes at A Better Way. Jan has written a children’s book in which she is also the watercolour illustrator. She hopes to publish it this year.