May 14
John 8:1-20
In John 8, we see two powerful ways Jesus wants to transform our lives. In the middle of a teaching session, an adulteress woman was thrown at Jesus. The religious leaders quoted the Mosaic Law and told Jesus she deserved death. Jesus agreed with them, but said only a perfect person, and thus a true judge, could enact this judgment. The religious leaders slowly slunk away, and Jesus eventually was left with only the woman. Jesus offered her forgiveness, but also called her to "go now and leave your life of sin." Forgiveness is an acknowledgement of a wrong committed, and implicit in receiving forgiveness is a desire to live in a different way. Forgiveness should never be seen as permission to continue repeating the behavior, but a freedom to live differently. Jesus has freed the woman from shame and guilt, so she can now walk in holiness. He left her transformed.
Jesus then turned to the crowd and told them that whoever will follow him "will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Being a disciple of Jesus means his life is replicated in ours. Jesus is the ultimate light of the world, and as our lives are conformed to his, this light should be evident within us. Part of this light is moral purity and holiness. His character, actions, and thoughts should flow out of us. Another aspect of light is truth since it reveals reality. So, may we be a city on a hill that shines forth the reality and holiness of Christ to our world.
Father God, help me to walk in holiness and obedience, so that the world might see you through me. Amen.
What will it look like to shine forth as a light today?
In John 8, we see two powerful ways Jesus wants to transform our lives. In the middle of a teaching session, an adulteress woman was thrown at Jesus. The religious leaders quoted the Mosaic Law and told Jesus she deserved death. Jesus agreed with them, but said only a perfect person, and thus a true judge, could enact this judgment. The religious leaders slowly slunk away, and Jesus eventually was left with only the woman. Jesus offered her forgiveness, but also called her to "go now and leave your life of sin." Forgiveness is an acknowledgement of a wrong committed, and implicit in receiving forgiveness is a desire to live in a different way. Forgiveness should never be seen as permission to continue repeating the behavior, but a freedom to live differently. Jesus has freed the woman from shame and guilt, so she can now walk in holiness. He left her transformed.
Jesus then turned to the crowd and told them that whoever will follow him "will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Being a disciple of Jesus means his life is replicated in ours. Jesus is the ultimate light of the world, and as our lives are conformed to his, this light should be evident within us. Part of this light is moral purity and holiness. His character, actions, and thoughts should flow out of us. Another aspect of light is truth since it reveals reality. So, may we be a city on a hill that shines forth the reality and holiness of Christ to our world.
Father God, help me to walk in holiness and obedience, so that the world might see you through me. Amen.
What will it look like to shine forth as a light today?
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