Caught

Understanding Your Worth and Value
You are not condemned!

       Caught!

“We got her this time. Caught… read handed! She’s done for and Jesus won’t know what to. He’ll look like a fool! Ha ha!”

“Oh, yeah! Adultery isn’t something He can ignore.”

So the ministers took the shamed woman to the temple.

There they placed her in the center of the court. She was

trembling. She knew the law. She would be stoned to death. She had to pay.

And the ministers couldn’t wait to start throwing stones!

I’ll never leave here alive. What’ll I say when I face God? Oh I’m so stupid… so foolish. I hate myself.

“Jesus, we caught this woman in a man’s

bed… who‘s not her husband. The law says she should be stoned. What do you say?”

Jesus knew their hearts—ugly!

Where’s the mercy? They just want to make me look like a fool. Well, I could care less

about that. My heart’s for this broken woman.

Jesus stooped down and wrote in the sand with His finger. When he stood up He spoke and when Jesus spoke it was different. He is God. He is all authority.

“I’ll tell you what. If you’ve never sinned….start throwing.”

The sounds of falling stones and fading footsteps were heard. All

had sinned. Jesus had triumphed—condemnation had lost.  

Jesus approached the cringing woman crumpled on the ground.

Gently He lifted her up and looked deeply into her hurting eyes.

“Woman, where are those who shamed you?”

All she saw was kindness.

I’ve never seen a man like this. He knows my sin but all I see is His love. How can this be? How could He love me?

“They’re gone, Lord.”

“I don’t condemn you either but there’s one thing. Go and sin no more.”(John 8:10-11)

And she knew she could do that. She’d just seen Jesus. She’d never be the same—again!

Dear Lord, Thank you that you do not hate me or judge me. Show me how to live.

 

.

A Reputation Lost

A Reputation Lost?

Something was up! Joseph knew it. Heads would turn and whispers were exchanged when he came near.

“Hey, Joseph, get your head out of the sand, your Mary’s pregnant! “

“That’s can’t be true. You’re lying!”

“See for yourself, Joseph. Her belly’s popping.”

Joseph hung his head. Daggers hit his heart. His so called friends were smirking

at him. He was a broken man.  

“So…what are you going to do…marry her anyway? What about your reputation?”

Joseph was cut to the heart. Anger came next. What’ll I do? If I marry her I’ll be called a fool! I’ll be labelled forever!

He knew the rule. A woman caught in adultery should be stoned—to death.

“Lord, I can’t do that. You’re a God of mercy. Oh, Lord, I feel so alone. Please help me!”

The light was incredibly bright, almost blinding. Joseph shaded his eyes while

glow of angel dust filled his room. “Do not be afraid, Joseph. Mary is pregnant with the Messiah. Marry her and call his name Jesus.”

“Oh, Lord, people will still talk. Who will believe? But

I do! I’m going to marry that girl!”

And Joseph took off running and knocked on the door of the girl he loved.

Looking into her dear face, tears welled up. “Mary, I know!”

Mary cried too. “Dear Joseph, you’ve laid down your reputation for me.

Are you sorry?”

Joseph framed her face with his large carpenter hands. “No regrets, Mary." I saw heaven open. I cannot deny God. He has my reputation.  He’ll cover me.  In time… the world will know!”

A man humbled himself before God—and the whole world knows the rest of the story!

Dear Lord, I'll follow you...no matter what they say!

Guilty!

Called to Greatness...Called to Impact! 

Great Men are Humble before God

Guilty!

“I know how bad I've been; my sins are staring me down.’

Psalm 51:3 (MSG)

David was bored and when he saw beautiful Bathsheba bathing—that was it!

“Oh, baby! She’s what I need. Married to me? No.

Married to another? No bother. I’m king. I can do anything.”

“Get me that girl… tonight!”

And Bathsheba came—like a little lamb. David took one look at

her, pulled her

into his arms, kissed her lovely face, and crossed the boundaries of

holy matrimony.

It didn’t matter that Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, was in battle that very night

risking his life for his king. David got what he wanted!

The plot thickens. “David, I’m pregnant.”

The cover up

“General Joab, send Uriah home. He needs time at home…with his wife.”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

Uriah came home but slept outside the king’s gate. “Why aren’t you home?”

“Enjoy my wife while all the army of Israel camps outside in the open field?”

David fussed, “Lordy, Lordy, some sticky situation. How can I come out smelling like a rose?”

“General Joab!”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

“Put Uriah the Hittite on the front line of battle when the fighting gets tough.”

And so a noble soldier fell in battle and David made Bathsheba his wife.

But God saw

Nathan, the prophet, was listening. “What’s that you say about David, Lord?”  

Nathan packed his donkey and headed for Jerusalem.

“David, you have sinned against God! Much trouble will come to your family.”

“Aw, come on God. I just wanted a little fun. You made me this way. Others have done far worse.”

David didn’t say that! He made no excuse.

 He fell on his face. 

“Against you only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight.”

And God forgave David—immediately!

King David was called a man after God’s own heart. Why?—because he humbled

himself before God.

        Guilt had hung over him like a club.

                      He was tired of pretending.

          He wanted to be close to God—again. 

He repented!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         This is greatness—humility before God for sin.
Dear Lord, Please forgive me for this sin_____________. I was wrong.