Scripture: John 8:3-7
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Thought for the Day: Tomorrow, I will begin preaching on Conflict Resolution and how we often need a little more than spiritual duct tape to hold our relationships together. One of the areas that I have been reflecting on is related to accepting responsibility. How often have we heard someone say, “It take two to tango.” This is often used when someone wishes to place all the blame on one person, when in fact, the blame can be spread out a bit more. I’m sure you have raised the same question that I have raised in the above story about the woman caught in adultery. As far as I know, two people are required for adultery. So often in conflict, blame is cast upon one person. Part of the defensiveness is felt in carrying the full burden of blame when it should have been shared. When trying to deal with a situation of conflict, look carefully at where you can take some of the burden of blame. Now there are times when the responsibility is entirely on one person’s shoulders, but often there is something we can accept. Even if it something small, the confession is helpful to the ears of the one feeling defensive. That small confession may lower the tension felt by the other party.
Prayer: Give me eyes to see what I may not have previously seen, O Lord. Allow me to take responsibility where there is responsibility for me to take. Amen.
SEE YOU IN WORSHIP
TOMORROW
