Be a Doer for Christ
James McGuire

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

jim mcguire headshot Do, Love, Walk. All action verbs. What action do we take after an encounter with Jesus? After ‘YOUR’ encounter with Him? The shepherds went to Jesus and then shared the good news for they were changed men. The wise men followed the star, sought the child, traveled multiple miles, worshiped, left tribute, and then protected the baby and his parents from Herod’s treachery. What is your action after having met Christ?

In praying about this scripture in Micah, I kept thinking about John 8:2-11 and the woman caught in adultery. I find this to be one of those Bible passages that portrays a very dramatic moment in Jesus’ ministry and one that I recently came back to for reflection. Jesus is in the Temple teaching “all the people” when the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They pushed her into the center of the crowd, and placed her before Jesus. They intended to trap Him by appealing to the law. They caught the woman right in the act and dragged her to meet Jesus. Not both of the adulterous sinners faced Him -- just her (where was the man?), and the religious leaders quoted the law of Moses that said she should be stoned. They pressed Jesus for a decision. “So, what do you say?” (v. 5) Do you ever find people, maybe your kids or even others in your family, that do this to you? They ambush you using some section of scripture they found that confirms exactly what “they believe”.

Jesus bent down and wrote with His finger on the ground. (v.6) Ever doodle when you’re thinking? I do. What do you do when confronted with a hard decision? When your role as spouse, parent, friend is challenged? Do you get defensive and come back hard? Or do you soften your response so as not to offend? Do you think before you speak, or react quickly? Do you avoid conflict, or face it head on?

In this scene, Jesus faced the conflict head on. After having a moment to think, He stood and faced them. He said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more He bent down and wrote on the ground. (vs. 7-8) Have you ever said just the right thing that freezes the opposition, definitively answers the question, and makes a comeback almost impossible? I can tell you these moments are few and far between. More often than not I make matters worse. I inflame the opposition, end up having to apologize and explain myself, or I take the cowardly route and turn, walk away, and use the old silent treatment.

I think that Jesus’ example here is “a better way”. Listen, Think, Respond Thoughtfully, Wait and Listen. Each one of these is a lesson in itself.

When the scribes and Pharisees heard Jesus, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones … Maybe the old guys were slower and got there late and stood in back. Or they were just wiser and got what Jesus was teaching before the others caught on. Regardless, rather than confront Him further, they all walked away, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before Him. (v.9)

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.”  And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you...” (vs. 10-11) This is where people tend to want the passage to end. It’s where I want it to end many times. Praise God -- she’s off the hook, and so am I! Jesus is a God of Love and second chances. What a gracious God! OK, let’s head home now. But wait a minute -- Jesus wasn’t done yet. He said,

“Go, and from now on sin no more.”

Does that hit you like a brick every time you read it? It does me. It pops into my head every time someone says, “Jesus is all about love. Who are you to condemn me? Them? For what they believe, or do? What makes you the great judge?” This kind of confrontation is designed to stop me in my tracks and make me go away without saying anything. I’m told, “Love is free and has no strings attached. Jesus loves and forgives everyone practicing all types of behaviors and committing all kinds of what you might call sins.” And I have to agree that Jesus does that, but then He says, “go now and sin no more.” In other words -- do something in response to your being with Jesus. Do something right; something loving; something for God and His Kingdom. His sacrifice was for everyone. Once and for all. Who wouldn’t respond to His forgiveness by doing something -- not because you had to, but because you wanted to? Because you have been changed by His Spirit and challenged to be the person God made you to be.

What is your “Do” verb this year? Go? Share? Love? Encourage? Help? -- Pick one. They are all good actions provided that they are motivated by Him. Go help someone, love your spouse, your kids, friends and neighbors in a better way. Encourage someone who is struggling, or give to someone in need.

This New Year, see Jesus in a new light. Go away from this moment promising Jesus that you will change. Do Justice toward everyone, and be gentle and merciful. Love kindness, and don’t boast about how you act on it. Jesus looks you in the eye and says to you, “Look around (insert your name here). Who is here to condemn you? Now -- look at Me! Don’t be arrogant about what you have received. Be gracious to others who haven’t had the same experience that you have had. Don’t condemn them, but encourage them to come to know Me, and to seek that same sense of peace and cleanness you now have. Walk humbly with your God -- joyfully, in gratitude, and “go and sin no more.”

return