Life Plan Devotion #165 [Mercy]
Hi, Everyone.
While the scripture passage for today's devotion is the same as the original devotion I wrote about a year ago, the rest is new, which [drum roll, please] means that hopefully my writer's block is gone! I pray that's the case, anyway. I did feel the Lord's help in writing this, which was oh, so sweet. :) I plan to continue posting the remainder of these older devotions, unless the Lord nudges me otherwise, but I am thinking about a new study theme for the Life Plan Devotion, and I can use this time to do some research and reflection and prayer and more. :)
Please pray for those having surgery today and those recovering from surgery. If you have any prayer requests, feel free to post them or PM me. I do love hearing from you. It blesses and encourages me.
Life Plan Devotion #165 [Mercy]
John 8:9-11 [NLT] "When the accusers heard [Jesus say, 'The one who has never sinned throw the first stone!'], they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman [who had been caught in adultery]. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, 'Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?' 'No, Lord,' she said. And Jesus said, 'Neither do I. Go and sin no more.'" [Note: Information in brackets added by author, for clarity.]
The woman from this passage in John, having been caught in the sin of adultery, deserved (according to the law) death by stoning.
I wonder what she thought, as she surely felt her life was in the hands of this man called Jesus. Maybe she didn't even know who He was, but the Pharisees seemed to "know" Him, and they were asking Him what should be done with her.
Perhaps she held her breath, for fear that Jesus would use or abuse her, and then give her up into the hands of the crowd waiting with rocks in hand. But Jesus did not see the adulterous woman through the eyes of the law. He saw her through the eyes of mercy, and when we realize that it is through the eyes of mercy that God sees each of us, we will look around and see that no one is standing nearby, to accuse or stone us.
Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve, but does mercy give us a license to sin? No. The reason is that sin carries natural consequences, which is why, when Jesus says that He does not condemn her, He adds, "Go and sin no more." That is not the tone of a stern judge, but the tone of a wise Father.
It is the same for you and for me, today. We sin, and justice demands payment, but payment was made 2,000 years ago, and when we turn to the Cross, accepting Jesus' sacrificial payment for our sin, Mercy says "No, I'm not gonna let you go. I'm not gonna let you slip away. You don't have to be afraid. Sin will never take control." [lyrics from Mercy Said No]
What this has to do with weight loss: Even with believers on the weight-loss journey, there is often a fear of regain, and if that fear is not confronted and replaced by faith, regain will be the result. You see, your body will follow the lead of your heart, and your heart will follow the lead of your mind. If you're thinking, "Food has control over me," it does. If you're thinking, "I'm afraid I'm going to gain all the weight I've lost," you will. But oh, my friend, if you will listen, you can hear a still, small voice, called Mercy, and it will be saying, "No. Sin will never take control." You just have to decide to which voice you will hearken.
Today, listen to CeCe Winans as she sings "Mercy Said No," and rejoice in the fact that if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, God sees you through the Blood of Jesus and the shadow of the Cross, and be determined to see yourself the same way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_SjhKJgqGg
Blessings,
Mary
While the scripture passage for today's devotion is the same as the original devotion I wrote about a year ago, the rest is new, which [drum roll, please] means that hopefully my writer's block is gone! I pray that's the case, anyway. I did feel the Lord's help in writing this, which was oh, so sweet. :) I plan to continue posting the remainder of these older devotions, unless the Lord nudges me otherwise, but I am thinking about a new study theme for the Life Plan Devotion, and I can use this time to do some research and reflection and prayer and more. :)
Please pray for those having surgery today and those recovering from surgery. If you have any prayer requests, feel free to post them or PM me. I do love hearing from you. It blesses and encourages me.
Life Plan Devotion #165 [Mercy]
John 8:9-11 [NLT] "When the accusers heard [Jesus say, 'The one who has never sinned throw the first stone!'], they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman [who had been caught in adultery]. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, 'Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?' 'No, Lord,' she said. And Jesus said, 'Neither do I. Go and sin no more.'" [Note: Information in brackets added by author, for clarity.]
The woman from this passage in John, having been caught in the sin of adultery, deserved (according to the law) death by stoning.
I wonder what she thought, as she surely felt her life was in the hands of this man called Jesus. Maybe she didn't even know who He was, but the Pharisees seemed to "know" Him, and they were asking Him what should be done with her.
Perhaps she held her breath, for fear that Jesus would use or abuse her, and then give her up into the hands of the crowd waiting with rocks in hand. But Jesus did not see the adulterous woman through the eyes of the law. He saw her through the eyes of mercy, and when we realize that it is through the eyes of mercy that God sees each of us, we will look around and see that no one is standing nearby, to accuse or stone us.
Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve, but does mercy give us a license to sin? No. The reason is that sin carries natural consequences, which is why, when Jesus says that He does not condemn her, He adds, "Go and sin no more." That is not the tone of a stern judge, but the tone of a wise Father.
It is the same for you and for me, today. We sin, and justice demands payment, but payment was made 2,000 years ago, and when we turn to the Cross, accepting Jesus' sacrificial payment for our sin, Mercy says "No, I'm not gonna let you go. I'm not gonna let you slip away. You don't have to be afraid. Sin will never take control." [lyrics from Mercy Said No]
What this has to do with weight loss: Even with believers on the weight-loss journey, there is often a fear of regain, and if that fear is not confronted and replaced by faith, regain will be the result. You see, your body will follow the lead of your heart, and your heart will follow the lead of your mind. If you're thinking, "Food has control over me," it does. If you're thinking, "I'm afraid I'm going to gain all the weight I've lost," you will. But oh, my friend, if you will listen, you can hear a still, small voice, called Mercy, and it will be saying, "No. Sin will never take control." You just have to decide to which voice you will hearken.
Today, listen to CeCe Winans as she sings "Mercy Said No," and rejoice in the fact that if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, God sees you through the Blood of Jesus and the shadow of the Cross, and be determined to see yourself the same way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_SjhKJgqGg
Blessings,
Mary
"Don't tell God how big your storm is; tell your storm how BIG your God is!"
ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and Support Group Coach
ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and Support Group Coach