Tag: Mercy

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Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel Of John Cowboy Style”

Casting the First Stone

“While He was a-wtittin’, they kept on pushin’ Him to give an answer. Jesus raised up then and spoke, ‘Okay, any of you fellas that has never broken the Law in any fashion, you throw the first stone.’ He stooped down again and started writin’ some more stuff in the dirt. I reckon their jaws dropped and they done saw what it was Jesus was a-writin’ in the dirt. Startin’ with the oldest one-by-one they hightailed it out of there until ever last one of `em was gone” John 8:7-9. (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

Have you ever wondered what it was that Jesus was writing in the dirt? The woman had been caught dead-to-rights. She was guilty of adultery, caught in the very act. Such a flagrant violation of the Jewish law demanded the death penalty. So, taking advantage of the opportunity to test Jesus these law abiding Pharisees brought this guilty woman and dropped her at His feet.

When confronted by the Pharisees that such a woman should be stoned to death, Jesus didn’t say a word. He just stooped down and with His finger started writing in the dirt. Isn’t that interesting? Have you ever wondered what it was that He was writing?

Some folks think that He was simply doodling in the dirt with His finger, waiting for these self-righteous men to perhaps come to some degree of mercy towards the woman. Others think He was writing some Scriptures in the dirt. Some Suppose that He may have been writing the men’s names; those who were standing there with the rocks in their hands.

I have another thought; can’t prove it, because the Bible doesn’t say what He was writing. I sort of figure that since Jesus asked that he who had not sinned be first to throw a stone, that it might just be that He was writing their sins in the dirt. Were they, the ones who brought this law-breaker to Jesus law-breakers themselves? Of course they were and He reminded them of that very fact. Not surprising then that upon seeing their trespasses so glaringly displayed before them, that they dropped those rocks like they were hot potatoes in their hands.

It might be that before we judge someone else for what we think is a flagrant sin, that we first may need to take a good long look at ourselves.

Jesus said . . .

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)

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Fence Post Devotional “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

No Greater Love

“Ya see, God loves this world so much, that He gave His one and only Son to die, so that every man, woman, boy and girl who believes in Him will not die, but will be a-livin’ forever” John 3:16 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

It’s one thing for a man to offer up his life on behalf of others. Some through history have done that. Given the right circumstance, you or I might be willing. In fact, Jesus at one point told His disciples “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

But, to give up one’s own son? Now that’s an altogether different thing. I might be willing to lay down my life, but to voluntarily lay down the life of my son for the sake of others, even perhaps for my enemies; that would be a difficult, maybe even an impossible choice.

There is one who from ancient Biblical history knew about such a choice. On Mt. Moriah, Abraham placed his son on an altar, his son of promise. And within a millisecond of fatally plunging a knife into Issac, God stayed his hand and offered-up a substitute instead.

Years later, on another mount, outside the city of Jerusalem, A Father stood by as His only Son was nailed to a cross as a sacrifice for all mankind. This time the sacrificial hand was not stayed. But sin, death and Satan were allowed to do their worst to the Son of God so that the best might be done for us.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

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Fence Post Devotional “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

Painting by Jeff Segler

An Appointment to Keep

“Jesus figured it was gettin’ ‘bout time to move on to Galilee. So He cleared on out of Judea for the time bein’. He was of a mind to follow the trail through Samaria, so they lit out” John 4:3-4 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

When Jesus and His disciples left Judea to travel to Galilee, John made this interesting note of His traveling plans: “He was of a mind to follow the trail through Samaria.” The KJV has it, “He must needs go through Samaria.”

There were other routes to Galilee other than through Samaria, But Jesus determined, “He must needs go through Samaria.” Some orthodox Jews determined not to go through Samaria. But Jesus, Himself being a Jew had no such reservations. He said, “I must needs go through Samaria.”

But why go through Samaria? Well, the simple answer is, Jesus had an appointment to keep; an appointment that was made in eternity past, even before the foundations of the world were laid. She didn’t know it, but Jesus did. He must go through Samaria,  meet with a woman at an ancient well and offer her the gift of a lifetime, “Living Water” so she would never thirst again.

Did you know that Jesus has made an appointment with you? And like with the woman of Samaria, He offers you the most wonderful gift of all, “A well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:10).

And here is the amazing thing. He makes the appointment. He must needs find you. The woman of Samaria was at a well. I was in my backyard. It really doesn’t matter where you are. With overwhelming love He searches for you and finds you. And like with the “Woman of Samaria,” He offers to you the gift of eternal life.

Yam Sing, when presenting himself for membership in a Bible believing Church was asked by the Pastor, “How did you find Jesus?” Answered in his broken English, “I no find Jesus at all, He find Me.”

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What is so Amazing about God’s Amazing Grace?

“Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me”

God’s Amazing grace is something that Paul never got over. Eighty-five times he wrote about grace. You never have to go far in any of his letters without running into the word, “grace”. Three times he recorded the time, when on his way to Damascus to imprison Christians he came face-to-face with the Amazing Grace of God; grace,  that saved even a wretch like him. Continue reading “What is so Amazing about God’s Amazing Grace?”

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Forgiven

Forgive and you will be Forgiven

Two women with a long-standing friendship had a serious falling out. As a result, for the next several years they refused to speak to one another. Ultimately one of the women became severely ill. Remembering her old friend, she invited her to her bedside and there they made amends. They buried the hatchet and forgave each other. It was a joyous reunion.

But when the visiting woman was leaving the sick woman said to her re-united friend, “I want you to know that today, I did forgive you, but should I Continue reading “Forgiven”