Even When We’re At Our Worst
Imagine being caught at your worst possible moment.
Maybe it’s of a sexual nature and you were caught cheating or viewing pornography. Perhaps it could be binge eating with telltale signs of frosting all over your mouth. It might be financial like taking a credit card to its limit or cheating your employer or government. How about getting caught in a rage or throwing an adult temper tantrum that included pounding your fist on the table and yelling at the top of your lungs.
Next imagine that you were not only caught, but were immediately hauled away to the public square and shamed and humiliated in front of your family, friends and neighbors and CNN news crew.
Try to image such an ugly, awful scenario and then, in the midst of all the guilt, shame and embarrassment discovering a sense of hope, when hopefulness seems as distant as another planet.
If its possible to imagine any of that at all, you’re ready to read John 8.2-11; the story of Jesus encounter with the woman caught in the act of adultery. With her life on the line, and the probability of her death very high, Jesus gave her hope.
The uncertainties and frustrations of the current pandemic can, on occasion, bring out the worst in us. It might not be as dramatic as the examples above. It could be as subtle as being short with a loved one, but whatever it is, when we bring it to Jesus we find hope!
And, the hope He provides can be far more “contagious” than a stupid virus. It provides life and rebirth for you and your family and your friends and your neighbors and even for the CNN News crew!
Peace,
Karl