"When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her" - John 8:7 (NIV).
It is a story well told. "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (John 8:3-6). Jesus being God knew everything about these self righteous accusers of the fallen woman. He knew all their secrets.
He bent low and asked, "let anyone of you who is without the sin be the first to stone to her" and then "At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there" (vv 9). Left alone, Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,”Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (vv 10-11).
Times have not changed much; and just as then, on occasion some weak and defenceless person is hauled before the law, accused of some sexual indiscretions, and condemned. After the suspension of schools was lifted in Uganda thousands of girls have returned while pregnant. One cleric has accused them "of messing themselves up" and hence should be blocked from school.
There can be good reason to hold pregnant girls back for a while as the school adjusts to receive them, perhaps with a richer counselling programe for both boys and girls.But condemning them of immortality shouldn't be expected.
Scripture says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Since in most cases we are not aware of how these pregnancies came to be, rather, we should show love and not condemnation. For the last thing someone already down needs is further crucifixion, something which may drive already broken girls to regrettable acts of desperation.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, in times as these, help us show compassion and love, to those whom society has condemned and rejected, to the glory of your name, this I pray in Jesus's name!
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24/04/2024 - 25/04/2024 All day“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4)
Premier Joseph and King David have a particular common characteristics: two individuals who were blessed with success, in their work. When Joseph was taken into the household of Potiphar, “The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered...When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant” ( Gen 39:2-4).
Even when he was imprisoned later, on false accusations, “The LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there” (vv 21-22). Later in his life he is made second in command of Egypt by Pharaoh. “You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you” (Genesis 41:40).
For David, after he disposed off Goliath, “Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army” (1 Samuel 18:5). His success on the battle field would soon cause trouble for him when the troops started singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (vv 7).
In spite of Saul’s anger at the comparison and even trying to kill him, for David “in everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns” (vv 14-16). Eventually, the throne would pass on to David.
Success in life is one of the blessings the Lord has marked out for believers. These individuals were successful because the Lord was with them. The only one who does not wish to see success of us, is the enemy Satan, who comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). May we pray that our lives are characterized with the anointing of success, because the Lord is with us!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that I bask in your success, in all that I do, because as was with your servants Joseph, David, Daniel and others, you are with me, and this I pray in Jesus’ name.
