Part 3 – Being Right
I’m continuing a multi week blog series called, “Can You Identify?” I’m pretty excited about it because during these weeks you’ll find some type of identity within these blogs and what you can do to become, “more like Jesus” through it.
This week I want to talk about what to do when you know someone who has been in the wrong. Maybe they’ve wronged you or someone you know. Maybe you heard about what someone did that was just plain dirty. What do you do? How do you respond when you are in the right and someone else is in the wrong?
Being right is something we all love. We love to be right. I think it’s ok to want to be right. Being right is built into our DNA, God built us to be right with Him and with others. The problem we get into is when we become right and our security is found in that self-righteousness. All of a sudden, it’s not about just being satisfied and content with being right with God through Jesus, now we want to show everyone how right we are by showing others how wrong they are. Listen friend, this is a clarion call to complete dependency of the righteousness found only in Jesus. Anything we take pride in, God will surely make a stumbling block. If you boast in your righteousness be sure that something in your character is going to foul that up. It’s just the way it is. God wants us totally dependent on Him and anything that is in the way, as a good Father, He has a way of removing.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1 NIV
So many good things in this verse, but what I want you to see is that it warns us to watch ourselves! Watch out how you deal with CHRISTIANS who have sinned and need restoration. If you are walking around high and mighty and think that you have some superior moral ground…. your temptation is on the way! The problem is most people who have a sense of moral superiority don’t know it! It’s so sad because these are the people who make us all look like religious nuts! We must do better church.
2Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” 12Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:2-12 NKJV
Jesus paints us the picture with complete clarity. No one knows what He wrote on the ground but my guess is maybe it was the names of woman these guys had slept with or the individual sins of each guy! Who knows?! But what we do know is Jesus will always cut right to the chase and get us gut level honest with the cross. In light of our own sin do we have any room to be “right”? We all deserve hell, let that sink in. But because of Jesus we get salvation and to live in heaven for eternity.
The next time you want to throw stones, think of Jesus stooping in the dirt.
I’d love to hear how you identify with this story! Leave your comments below.
Wonderfully “soul searching” blog … In our society today, being “RIGHT” seems to be an all consuming fire that can be so destructive because it leaves no room for mercy or grace or forgiveness … And sometimes it’s not just about being “right” but being “more” right … Very thought provoking, honey, … Thanks for sharing .. Mom
This speaks to me and I have wrestled with the fact the no one is without sin. In my experience it has been the other person talking to others at my work and at church, slandering me….u see others who have believed what has been said because the person has a certain position / status at work /church……so much I could share. A lot of hurt about situations over these last 4 years, however, I will continue I to seek God and give it to Him and thank Him for strengthening me, for what He has for my future. I most definitely want to release the pride of being right! Thank you for this word as it has helped me to see another perspective! I don’t want to walk in self-righteousness!!!
Be blessed!!!!!
This was an awesome revelation into how we are to treat others with respect to sin, it says more about us than those we feel need rescuing. Power view of Jesus bringing us hit level to the cross & writing in the dirt, examining the sin of our high opinion of ourselves. Wow humbling, power WORD, MOG. I appreciated this so much. Thank you!