Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme:  Only God

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Hosanna - Paul Baloche, More Than Anything - Hillsong, Happy Day - Tim Hughes, How He Loves - David Crowder

Read:  John 8:1-11 

Think:  Some people are born to make speeches.  The recent election season was one reminder of that.  I remember lecture halls in college that held several hundred students at a time, all of us listening to just one person.  A central part of our church experience, too, is the sermon.  Even Jesus spoke to thousands at a time.  Speeches made to crowds are a useful part of our society, and preaching is an important tradition for the Church.  Good preaching helps make more and better disciples, which Pastor Ben has called our “mission”.  But only a few of us are meant to be preachers.  So does that mean that the rest of us are in support roles only?  Hardly!  

The story related in John 8 is dramatic.  For starters, the woman brought before Jesus isn’t simply reported to have committed adultery, but to have been caught in the act, which may suggest something about the way she was dressed when she was dragged into the Temple courts.  (Given space limitations, I am unable to rant here about the absence of her partner.)  Her accusers want her put to a violent death, or to trap Jesus.  High drama, indeed. 

But for me, the most compelling part of the story comes after the crowd leaves.  Jesus speaks with the woman for a few moments one-on-one.  I think that this exchange gives those who aren’t preachers a wonderful model of how to share God’s grace with others.  Jesus never condemns her, despite her sin.  He speaks kindly to her, after having defended her against those who sought to tear her apart.  But at the same time, he urges her gently in the right direction, a life without further sin.  

We can join in the work of making more and better disciples of Jesus by following this example.  When we refuse to condemn, but show kindness instead, the message of grace is communicated powerfully.  Like Jesus did, we can meet people at their point of need, without judgment, but with a gentle invitation to move in a better direction.  Such compassion is often far more effective than any preaching.  

Do:  Make it a point to listen to someone today without judging. 

Pray:  Lord, thank you for using both preaching and one-on-one encounters to advance your work in this world.  I’m not sure that I’m particularly good at either one, but I want to be better.  Today, I ask you to curtail my impulse to judge and condemn.  Teach me compassion, so that I can be more effective at pointing others to you.  Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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