The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This 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. 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.” John 8:3-7
There is a danger in this current time and it is deception. We also have moved into the digital age. Now text is used more than speech between people. Text is the lowest form of communication as it requires the reader to use their own filters to fill in the intonation, diction, and body language of the writer, possibly totally changing the intent of the writer. And now there is a growing persistence of a human flaw / characteristic of ‘perfectionism’. If we find one little flaw we ‘throw the baby out with the bath water”. Who among us is ‘perfect’ in all their ways? Who never sins or dismisses the still small Voice of the Holy Spirit… ever? Here in this opening passage the spirit of the law and perfectionism is displayed by the ‘religious intellectual elite leadership’ trying to ‘trap’ Jesus. They wanted to throw both of them (Jesus and the woman) out of the religious system showing their own superiority.
Jesus is about redemption for the individual. Even though we are NOT perfect at all times He still calls us to follow Him. Jesus STILL loves us, and wants us to be ‘reminded’ by the Holy Spirit of what He is about. Jesus still wants us to walk with Him in His love. Jesus still wants us to be led by the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.
When you discern that something is not quite right with an individual, what is your first reaction? Do you immediately go to the Holy Spirit for discernment and instruction? Does your heart go out in prayer for them? What if that person repulses you? What if that person has treated you badly, or bullied you, or spoke bad about you wrongly? What words of Jesus does the Holy Spirit remind you of? Emotions can lead you in all sorts of wrong directions. We are not to be led by our emotions but by the will of God. How do we know the will of God in every situation and interaction with others? The Holy Spirit. He will instruct, guide, and reveal the Truth of the situation — giving you discernment. Can you hear Him well enough to receive that kind of information in your mind? What if someone is giving you ‘wrong’ teaching? Can you discern the truth and actually pray for the individual? Watch out … as the spirit of judgment can easily move into place making you think you are superior to them.
What words of Jesus does the Holy Spirit remind you of about the will of God? Is He teaching you in the Word (logos)? Is the Holy Spirit showing you how to apply the Word (rhema) in your life? Do you give the Holy Spirit first place in your life to advise you in every situation? This doesn’t mean long drawn out formulas and ritualistic prayers but a relationship and on going conversation through out your day type of interaction where you KNOW His Voice and He guides you and speaks to you in the moment.
Is the Holy Spirit constantly bringing you back to His fruit? Is the fruit of love being explained to you? What about the other eight fruit, are they being nurtured in your life as He explains them to you? (Galatians 5:22-23) What specifically is the Holy Spirit working on in your life? Do you know? Have you journaled or written down significant things He has shown you? How determined are you in your desire to grow spiritually?
Beware of the spirit of perfectionism and judgment. Lean into the Holy Spirit and His fruit. Know His fruit with daily experience. Walk in the Spirit with His fruit in your character being displayed at all times.