Morning by Morning, January 11 - Love that Covers Sin
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Light fill my life and Your Love fill my heart today. ...
“Jesus bent down and wrote with His finger in the dirt. (The religious leaders) kept at Him, badgering Him. He straightened up and said,
‘The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.’ Bending down again, He wrote some more in the dirt. Jesus once again addressed them: ‘I am the world's Light. No one who follows Me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of Light to live in’” (John 8:6-8, 12 The Message).
The religious leaders tried to put You to the test when they brought before You “a woman who had been caught in adultery” (v. 3). But You turned their test into a testimony of the goodness and mercy of God that still speaks today into a world hellbent on condemnation and judgment, criticism and cruelty, bitterness and unforgiveness, self-righteousness and arrogance.
They couldn’t throw their stones because they had no right with hearts full of sin. You could have thrown Your stone because You had every right with no sin in Your heart. But as the religious leaders dropped their stones and “went away, one by one, beginning with the elders,” You “straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? ... Neither do I condemn you” (v. 9-11).
Your mercy triumphed over judgment (James 2:13). Your love covered a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).
Maybe when You bent down and wrote with Your finger in the dirt, You were writing the sins of each of those who stood in judgment over the woman. Or maybe You were writing the Words of God even under the Old Covenant that the leaders had read and known that speak of forgiveness, mercy, and the covering our sins through Your covenant (Ezekiel 16:8) and through Your love (Proverbs 10:12).
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
You didn’t condone the woman’s sin. You told her, “Go your way, and from on do not sin again” (John 8:11). But You also did not condemn her heart (v. 10). You sought to change her heart. And if they would have allowed You, You would have changed the hearts of her condemners. Maybe dropping their stones of judgement and self-righteousness was a start.
Lord, keep changing my heart. Give me a heart that desires mercy over judgement, willing to cover a multitude of sins in my love. Empower me by Your grace to be a true disciple -- even loving my enemies, forgiving those who sin against me, blessing those who curse me, praying for those who persecute me, doing good to those who hate me (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27). A disciple is not above his teacher (John 13:12-17).
I have so much to learn of Your heart and so much to become of Your nature. But just as You are faithful to forgive, You are also powerful to change -- to make me more like You every day on my journey with You (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 4:17). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be filled with love of God and changed into the nature of Jesus, letting His love in you cover sins through the sacrifice of His , in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries
Messiah Ministries Mailing Address:
412 S. Adams Street #148
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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