The Finger of God

In John 8, the Pharisees and scribes, the strict keepers of the law, drag before Jesus, a woman caught in adultery. It was an all-around set-up in yet another attempt to discredit Him.

Woman Taken in Adultery by Pieter Bruegel The Elder

In their minds, Jesus can only take one of two actions;

A: agree to stone her for her crime, which the law given to Moses commands.

or

B: let her go, which would go against the law, making Jesus a lawbreaker.

Either way He chose would make Jesus less than perfect and take away His public fan-club. Either action would discredit Him and the Pharisees and scribes would be less convicted by His relationship with God.

"This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and... wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking, He raised Himself up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground" John 8:6,7,8.

As usual, Jesus doesn't fall into their trap. Jesus does C. And whatever He wrote on the ground was so convicting, that the accusing men leave silently, again stumped by Jesus' perfect action.

"When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, he said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." 8:10,11.

And although Jesus gently chastised her with his words, looking into Jesus' face maybe hurt her more than anything He could have done. I wonder if His written words also convicted her of her sin, as well as His reprimand.

There's been much said about what Jesus wrote on the ground. Since the words were not given, we can make only guesses and still be wrong.

This is only my opinion. I will not attempt to write for God.

I like to think Jesus wrote the Ten Commandments in the sand.

Wouldn't that be awesome!? Watching God write the Law! Wouldn't that be Absolutely Convicting!!

"And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God" Exodus 31:18.

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I Don't go to Church Because It's Full of Hypocrites!---Guest Blog

Guest Blogger Joel Littlefield·

I Don't go to Church because It's Full of Hypocrites!

     There are several reasons why a professing believer won’t go to Church. Among the most common is this: “The Church is full of hypocrites!” This is true in one sense but false in another. So let’s address it.

     The most common group of people addressed by Jesus as hypocritical are the Pharisees. They were the religious know-it-all’s of Jerusalem. The fact that these men took issue with Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, reveals the kind of people they really are.

So what does it mean to be a hypocrite? It’s a superficial attitude of holiness or right living. The hypocrite pretends to be someone he’s not and tells others, either with words or actions, “I am better than you and you are lower than me.”

     One day the pharisees asked Jesus, “Why don’t the disciples wash their hands before the meal as it is customary to do?” In other words -“If they do not wash their hands before they eat then they are not worthy to be called God’s people as we are.” Jesus responded with, “You white washed tombs!” Ouch! The very thing they thought made them holy was really just a covering for the wickedness in their hearts. They lived a life of outward holiness that had no effect on their inward man. Let’s reverse the scene for a moment. What if the disciples had seen the pharisees behavior and said to Jesus, “Why do the pharisees still wash their hands? Don’t they know that the way to be holy is to not wash your hands, like us?” In this case, the not doing something can just as likely become the empty hypocritical religion that causes you to think you are better than others, the very thing we often accuse the pharisee of. So who’s the hypocrite now?

     Some none-church-goers say, “I can’t stand to be among those hypocrites.” But what if they are the actual hypocrite and it is their heart that is unclean? What if the stay-at-home-Christian thinks that his stay-at-home status is more holy because he is removed from organized religion? In the mean time, and totally unaware, he has created his own religion where everyone on the outside is less than him. He has become the pharisee he was trying to avoid.

     Jesus hates hypocrisy, and as seen in the Scriptures, He’s not afraid to address it. He knew that Church buildings all over the world would be filled with imperfect people of all kinds, but His purpose is that in the process real heart change would take place by the power of the Holy Spirit. If you feel that simply being at Church is going to pinpoint something sinful in you, that may be true, but it’s not always because some hypocrite is waiting at the door. It may be that you are only staying away because you know God will expose the sin in your heart. But that’s exactly what you need. And avoiding the body of Christ and the accountability there is actually doing you harm.

     If you have come face to face with a pharisee in Church, even if you do again the very next time you go, then pray that Jesus exposes the Pharisaical heart, not only in him or her, but in you as well. Find a believer or pastor that you can trust and ask them to help you and counsel you. Whatever you do, understand that the Church is beloved by Christ. We are his blood-bought, adopted brothers and sister and we need each other. Even when you avoid the Church for a reason you think is worthy, it’s not.

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This post was used by permission.

Click link for more from Pastor Joel & Calvary Chapel Crossville

On Twitter https://twitter.com/graceinmaine

Pastor Joel Littlefield
I am 30 years old, the father to 3 wonderful children, and blessed to be 11 years married to my beautiful wife, Callie. I'm currently serving as the worship leader and assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel in Crossville, TN.  My passion is to preach and teach Christ to the Church, and show that His glory, His joy, and His will are our primary mission in life as Christians. Since writing is a form of teaching, and can be used to equip the body of Christ unto love and good works, this too has become a passion in my daily walk and growth with God.

Be sure to read the 30 Day Devotional

Grace In Crossville 

by Joel Littlefield

available at Amazon

Also read Joel's latest book 

Beeline To The Cross

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