Ray Rice and the Gospel

John 8:1-11 ESV

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”


Part of this passage was posted on my Facebook wall by one of my friends in reference to this situation, and it has been stuck in my mind every time I see Ray Rice getting blasted on social media and on the news. As Christians we are able to look at sin differently than those who have not put their faith in Jesus. From God's Word we know that there are none righteous, and that every man has within him a wicked, sinful heart. What Ray Rice did was heinous and terrible, but that same sin that he committed put Jesus on the cross just like my pride, laziness, and worry did. The magnitude and the effect of his sin was absolutely horrific, but so is the magnitude and effect of my lust and deceitfulness because Jesus had to die for those too. As we examine the Ray Rice situation let us not be self-righteous, and let us not forget that the only answer to the sin in our life is Jesus Christ. Only due to God's grace can we have forgiveness for our sin no matter how big or small it may seem to be.  

Getting the most out of your Bible Reading

I remember many days of reading the Bible as a teenager and getting absolutely nothing out of it. I read it with a checklist mentality doing my "devos" for the day thinking I would in some way be more blessed by God. I learned slowly but surely that this simply was a waste of my time to read my Bible for this purpose.

My journey to growing in my Christian walk has taken many turns, but the most important life-changing truth that has made the difference in my Bible reading has been seeing the big picture of God's redemptive work throughout the story of the Bible. Seeing the the gospel of Jesus Christ even in the most obscure passages of the Bible has given the Word of God so much more meaning to my life. Reading the Bible looking for God's redemptive plan and work in man has transformed my Bible reading and grown my relationship with God exponentially, and it can do the same for yours as well. The story of Jesus interacting with the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus sums up my message. Luke 24:27-32 ESV "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.   So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,  but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.  When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.  And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.  They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 

May it be our desire to have hearts burning with desire for our God every time we open up His Word by looking for His redemptive work in the gospel of Jesus Christ.