Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
__________

Morning Reading – John 7:53-8:11 (NLT)

Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home.

A Woman Caught in Adultery

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
__________

Morning Reflection:

Truth and Grace

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
– Jesus Prayer–

Whether publicly or privately, we’ve all been caught in the act of sin – be it hardness of heart, base desires, or shameful secrets. The humiliation that this woman faced is our humiliation before a righteous God. So what can we learn from this story?

+ Truth: There is no difference between the irreligious (the woman) and the religious (the Pharisees), we are all condemned sinners – under the judgement of God.

+ Truth: Jesus does not condone or excuse our sin – we are without excuse, solely at the mercy of God.

+ Grace: Jesus offers forgiveness to guilty sinners through faith and repentance.

+ Grace through Faith: Made available only through Jesus’ death on the Cross – (1 Corinthians 5:21) – but we’re jumping ahead in the story.

+ Grace and Repentance: The appropriate response to God’s grace and mercy is a changed life – “Go and sin no more.“

+ Truth and Grace: Jesus offers sinners a fresh start.

Questions for consideration:

• How do you view yourself – as an irreligious sinner, or as a religious sinner? What’s the difference? Please explain.
• How do you understand God’s grace? What role does grace play in your life?
• How do you understand God’s forgiveness? What role does faith in Christ play in forgiveness?
• How do you understand confession and repentance? What role do they play in your life?
• What is your one takeaway after reflecting on this story?

__________

Morning Prayer:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
__________

“No Condemnation” – Anthony Evans

__________

Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen