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John 8
Jesus stood without sin before the accused adulterous woman. He had the authority to condemn her. He was actually the only one who did. Yet He told her, “Then neither do I condemn you” (John 8:11b). A short time later Jesus again declared, “I pass judgment on no one.” (John 89:15b). Jesus had the right to judge because He did not judge by His own, or human, standards, but by God’s. Furthermore, He met those standards fully. Nobody else can say that. But God didn’t send Jesus for judgment. That was the purpose of the Law. God sent Jesus for mercy.
I like His phrase, “I pass judgment on no one.” It indicates to me that the judgment was given to Him and He held the authority to execute that judgment. Instead of passing it on to those who deserved it, though, He put it on Himself. Rather than condemn us for the sins we committed, He stood condemned in our place. What great mercy!
1 Chron. 18-19
Whom does the chronicler credit for David’s victories? In writing about David’s victories, the Chronicler twice said, “The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.” (1 Chron. 18:6b & 13b). This passage isn’t very long. Stating this once would have been more than sufficient. Only it wasn’t. I’m honestly not sure if stating it twice is sufficient. The concept is not just important, it’s crucial. God is in control. David was simply His beloved instrument. God uses whomever He pleases, but by staying humble before God, David allowed himself to be blessed through his role in God’s great plan. David knew it wasn’t about his victory, it was about God’s.
I know that I am nowhere near the pivotal figure in God’s plan that King David was. Still, this concept is just as crucial for my life as it was for David’s. God is in control. I am simply His beloved instrument. Whatever that looks like in my life, I know it is for God’s victory and not my own. So if I stay humble before God as David did, I will know the blessing of playing at least some small part in God’s great plan.
Prov. 15
Look at v. 1. With whom do you tend to react harshly? Ask God to help you give a gentle answer today. I don’t know about you, but nothing incites a harsh reaction from me more than a harsh reaction to me. This is especially so when that harsh response was neither expected nor deserved. I think harshness to me breeds harshness in me because it makes my defenses fly up. But such self-defense is rooted in, well…self. Which means it is a form of pride. And pride always either stems from or leads to a lack of trust in God. Thus, it is always unwise.
It is understandable for the defenses to fly up at a harsh word. Deserved or not, harsh words hurt, and nobody enjoys being hurt. But what if, instead of resorting to my own defenses, I could immediately turn that hurt over to God? Then maybe I could respond to the hurt that is causing the harsh reaction from the other party. That hurt may have nothing at all to do with me, but that doesn’t mean that I should choose to throw fire on it rather than seek to sooth it.
Proverbs 15:28a says, “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers”. And Proverbs 15:18 says, “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” So my response to the harshness of others should be thoughtful and patient. That harsh response I am inclined to return is neither. Step one, then, is to stop the quick response. Be patient and think first. Pray, even. Then perhaps I can respond in a way that pleases God, for “gracious words are pure in His sight.” (Pr. 15:26b).