Pastor David Maier - Forward in Hope

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

Where would I … we … be without the incredible love of God, and His grace?   These past days of reading and mediating have made me so thankful for the many “pictures” in the Gospels of Jesus having table fellowship, meal-sharing, with all sorts of turkeys, rabble, nobodies and marginalized people on the fringe of society … because there, like no where else, is the “scandalous”, pure, redemptive love of God exposed more clearly, more dramatically.

Exposed!

Was going to take an early morning walk around 5:15 am this morning ... but if you were up you know that it was POURING rain.  So the coffee pot went on early and my devotions began earlier than expected.  The reading was John 8 ... and I was only able to get through the first 11 verses.  In fact I know that I will be back there again some time today ... and probably tomorrow.  What struck me was the blatant contrast between outright hypocrisy and Jesus' profound love for the woman "caught in the very act of adultery" before noted church leaders. 

It hit me that at times it is easy for me to act like the church leaders ... when in reality I am far more like the woman caught in the very act of sin.  My favorite section of the reading ... when Jesus was left with the woman all alone.  Trying to hide her nakedness and shame ... Jesus addresses her with love ... and suddenly she is somehow clothed with dignity, and understanding, and acceptance, and forgiveness ... that came from the Master. 

His words to her were not harsh or condemning ... they were not a final judgement ... but a commmissioning ...  as He said to her, as He and she viewed the rest of her life ... "Go ... and leave your life of sin."  What love, what grace, what encouragement for her future.  What a great way to live today ... with Christ's benediction and commissioning in my life as well.