Dearest Sister Soldiers,
Hello, I hope your Tuesday has been pleasant and productive.
DEVOTIONAL
Psalm 121: 1-2
(A Song of Degrees.) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help [cometh] from the Lord, which made Heaven and Earth.
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John 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
This woman possibly thought she had reached her end. I’ve heard discussions back and forth about what happened to the man she was involved with in all of this; apparently an irrelevant pause. Possibly the Scriptures do not bring mention, as that would distract from other matters the Lord demonstrates in this situation. The only hope or way of escape was through her Advocate, Jesus Christ.
Take into consideration what the accusers (physically) saw standing before them, oneman defending her. The Word says in Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. What restrained that crowd from stoning them both to death? Certainly the two of them, from human perspective, were heavily outnumbered.
Jesus had not been formally trained in the power of persuasion, yet He asserted authority and unarmed the enemy with His Words!
The very same Jesus raised from the grave, lifts up your chin when you’re discouraged. Can’t you just feel Him giving you a hug and kiss on the top of the head, assuring you that it everything will be okay?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father
We come before You today
Thankful that we have an Advocate
We know there is one who goes before You
Accusing us
What a comfort it is to know that You, Almighty King
Defend us
Thank You for the blood that was shed
We praise You for showing grace and mercy to the undeserving
In the Name of the Living Word, Jesus Christ our Savior
AMEN
(2) Songs
“My Hope Is In You”
“Praise You In This Storm”