Wendy Pope

“They put her front of the crowd.”
John 8:3b (NLT)

 

In our media driven instant message society news stretches from continent to continent faster than we can read the words in this sentence. Our actions, good and bad are known instantly.

Jesus was teaching and was interrupted with some instant news, hot-off-the press of The Jerusalem Chronicles: She was caught in the act of adultery. Not only was the woman caught in the act of her private sin but she was being publicly shamed. Her accusers stood, poised with stones ready to convict and execute punishment at Jesus’ word. Much to their surprise Jesus didn’t speak any words. He knelt before them and wrote in the sand. One by one the accuser

Every day we are given countless opportunities to condemn, convict, and execute judgement in the town square of social media. Accusers bring private news to the public forums of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Without pause, we grab our stones and respond exactly like the Pharisees when instead we should respond like Jesus.

Rather than…

• Rather than ranting over mainstream media news reports, rave of the good news of Jesus Christ
• Rather than sharing someone’s hurt and humiliation, share the hope of scripture that comes from God’s Word
• Rather than posting something negative, post of the power of the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ

Reflection Questions:

Is my first response to spread social media scandals or stop them?

What is God teaching you through today’s text?

OK girls… here it is, the obligatory New Year’s Day post.

You might have read one.

You might have even written one.

I’m not sure exactly what we are supposed to say on these New Year Day’s posts. Do we share our resolutions, goals and promises for the coming year, so others will know how we plan to change? Do we confess our poor attempts at last year’s self promises, so others will know we fell short?

I’ve never been one to make resolutions; I fall short after about 30 days. Long term goals don’t work for me either; I have a short-term brain. I forget what I resoluted ( I know that isn’t a real word. That’s the fun thing about writing, you get to make words up. Sorry to upset all the teachers so early in the morning.) and overlook what goals I set, and when I finally do remember, I feel like a failure. So, I keep one thing in front of me every day… God’s Word.

God’s Word leads me where I should go, teaches me what I should know, and shapes me into the person I’m supposed to be. These are things I can’t accomplish alone, but are things I want and need in my life because I love Jesus and long for the favor of God on my life. When this is our pursuit, any resolutions, goals and self promises we make pale in comparison to what the God of immeasurably more has in store.

Some people have one word, I have one verse. I call it a spotlight verse, a verse from God’s Word that I feel directed by the Spirit to keep in front of me all year. Just like a spotlight brightens the darkened path where we walk, the Word of God illumines our direction so we go where God wants us to go, accomplish what God wants us to accomplish, and become who God wants us to become. (Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. Ps. 119:105)

 

My spotlight verse for 2019 is a hard one. Honestly, I’m afraid to pray it, because of its content… I see some hard times ahead. God in His sovereignty is preparing my heart for something ahead that will be difficult. I’d much rather pray some life-affirming, blessing-from-the-heavenlies verse but God says this is my verse…

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. Mark 11:25

Yeah, I know.

But God can and will do good stuff with hard verses.

So, we’ve come to the end of my obligatory New Year’s Day post. What would you post for today? A goal? A resolution? A promise? I’d love to hear about it.