July 22, 2022 – Words of Wisdom, Lisa Bevere (Christian Author)

God’s love for us is not subject to how we feel about ourselves. – Lisa Bevere

“Now there was a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all that she had, and she was no better but rather grew worse.She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his cloak, I will be made well.”Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my cloak?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ”He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:25-34

At Our Wits End

This woman is certainly at her wits end. She has spent all of her money on doctors and treatments – and still she suffers from a bleeding disorder. How many times do we feel the same way as this woman – at our wits end not knowing where else to turn? I preached a funeral sermon the other day where I shared with them these words from a modern day proverb:

“When you are at your wits end, remember G-d lives there.”

There are too many people out there in our society, in our country, and in our world who desperately need an encounter with the Jesus, who are living at their wits end, and who do not know where to turn. Throughout his ministry Jesus begs the outsiders to come to him – the ones desperately seeking an encounter with a G-d who, when they finally feel G-d’s love and acceptance that Jesus offers, well they might finally feel something inside of themselves begin to heal – or they might experience a love and a measure of Grace they thought they would never find.

Finally, Jesus calls this woman “daughter”. He accepts her into his family. We cannot miss this small gesture – for it is a huge deal. No one is outside of the possibility of being a part of G-d’s family. No one. All are welcome.

Let us pray

Lord Christ, you welcome the stranger, the sick, the outsider, the lost, last, least and little. Help me to remember today that I am in that list – that I matter – I am not outside of your love. Amen.

Pastor Dave

July 21, 2022 – Words of Wisdom, Susanna Koh (wife of kidnapped husband Pastor Raymond Koh)

There’s beauty in the brokenness. – Susanna Koh from Malaysia

“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and, making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”]] John 8:3-11

Brokenness

You cannot get any more broken than the woman caught in adultery. She has been caught in the act – and has been dragged to Jesus for an accounting. Does she deserve death? What will Jesus say?

It is interesting that Jesus initially says nothing. It had to have been an uncomfortable silence. It was as if Jesus was ignoring them all. How could he ignore such an accusation? Her brokenness was on display for so many to see, yet we hear nothing from her, and very little from Jesus. But the actions of Jesus speak loud and clearly. But first Jesus breaks his silence:

“Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

It is a surgical strike – right into the heart of us all – for who among us has not sinned. Who among us would endure our sins being expressed to the community who seethes with anger and retribution?

Jesus’ welcome to the woman is perhaps the first gesture she has experienced that reminds her that she matters – that there is hope for her wholeness. After publicly reminding the crowd of their sinfulness, the anger of the crowd is deflated like a balloon. Jesus looks to her and says “I do not condemn you. Go, sin no more.”

The all-encompassing love and acceptance of Jesus is on display in this text. But he does not leave her completely off the hook – with his final statement he tells her to examine her life.

We all have access to this same all-encompassing love and acceptance – and we all are asked to examine our lives. Jesus gives us chance after chance to recognize his love, mercy and grace and to align our lives to his love.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, your acceptance is overwhelming. My sins seem so great but your mercy is greater. Give me the strength to follow you every day. Amen.

Pastor Dave