Neither Do I Condemn You

Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more. 

-- John 8:11 

In his book Things I Wish Jesus Hadn't Said, Joe Edd Morris reflects upon the story of the woman caught in adultery, among other stories that challenge us greatly. He calls this section of his book, simply and profoundly, "neither do I condemn you."

It is a hard teaching, this teaching of Jesus that we offer grace, that we refrain from condemnation of others. Our brother Joe Edd writes,

Forgiveness is tough; it is a hard thing to do. With all of our biases and prejudices, our conditioned attitudes and our ingrained moral systems, foreclosing is much easier than forgiving. It is simply easier to turn our head, walk away, and not invest. The foreclosing on another is safe, forgiving is risky. We have no guarantees our forgiveness of another will change a behavior. But is that the goal, forgiving with the expectation people will turn around, go and sin no more? Forgiveness comes from love and love accepts without conditions. When we forgive, we have no agenda, no objectives. Unlike the accusers of the woman, when we forgive, we are not interested in control. Tillich reminds us that "forgiveness is unconditional or it is not forgiveness at all.

Jesus forgives the woman with no strings attached. In his demonstration of love for her, he can only hope, but not control, that his forgiveness makes love possible. She cannot love unless she accepts the forgiveness and "the deeper our experience of forgiveness, the greater is our love... Being forgiven and being able to accept oneself are one and the same thing."

Forgiveness is always a miracle, always a gift. There is power in forgiveness, for the one who offers and for the one who receives.
-- Hope Morgan Ward

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach us to forgive. Grant us grace to withhold condemnation and offer space for newness of life, we pray. Amen.

by Hope Morgan Ward, former resident Bishop of the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Lenten Devotional from the MS Annual Conference

God Is Still In Control!

Miss Lladale Carey

Web Content Producer

www.umcgiving.org

lcarey@Umcom.org

Jesus Never Said Everyone Was Lovable! 

Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out, two by two... 

-- Mark 6:7 

Bishop Clay Lee published a book of sermons preached at Galloway United Methodist Church. The title of the book is Jesus Never Said Everyone Was Lovable! In the first sermon on the scope of discipleship, Bishop Lee writes:

"A strong lesson for us in the church today is found in Jesus' instructions to his disciples as he sent them out on that initial venture. We do need to struggle with that temptation of choosing whom to serve. More particularly, we need to wrestle with the temptation of hoarding God's goodness, making it our own personal possession.

Let me tell you about a tribe in African known as the Masai, a race of strong, tall people. This particular tribe has always believed in one god, Engai. They believe Engai is passionately involved in his people's lives; that he loves the rich more than the poor, the healthy more than the sick, the virtuous more than the wicked. Engai favors the Masai over every other tribe, protecting them against their enemies.

You could almost call that attitude primitive if it were not for the fact that such a view of God is held by many people in our society today. Our lesson is to capture Jesus' understanding of God. We are to respond with simplicity and trust and generosity, just as Jesus instructed his disciples. Then we will be on the road to the Kingdom."

Prayer: Gracious God, make us givers of grace today, and tomorrow, and every day. Amen.

by Clay Lee is retired United Methodist Bishop living in Mississippi and an active participant in the ministries of Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church.

Lenten Devotional from the MS Annual Conference

God Is Still In Control!

Miss Lladale Carey

Web Content Producer

www.umcgiving.org

lcarey@umcom.org

Grace: The Heart of the Wesleyan Way

By "the grace of God" is sometimes to be understood that free love, that unmerited mercy, by which I, a sinner, through the merits of Christ am now reconciled to God. But in this place it rather means that power of God the Holy Ghost which "worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure." As soon as ever the grace of God (in the former sense, his pardoning love) is manifested to our souls, the grace of God (the latter sense, the power of his Spirit) takes place therein. And now we can perform, through God, what to (humanity) was impossible. 

-- John Wesley 

Wesley was convinced that the Christian life did not have to remain a life of continual struggle. He believed that both Scripture and Christian tradition attested that God's loving grace can transform our lives to the point where our own love for God and others becomes a "natural" response. Christians can aspire to take on the disposition of Christ, and live out that disposition within the constraints of our human infirmities. To deny this possibility would be to deny the sufficiency of God's empowering grace -- to make the power of sin greater than that of grace.

Prayer: God of Grace, open my spirit to your Holy Spirit, that my heart and mind may be redeemed and transformed by your Son, my Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen

by Stephen W. Rankin, "Aiming at Maturity: The Goal of the Christian Life"

Lenten Devotional from the MS Annual Conference

God Is Still In Control!

Miss Lladale Carey

Web Content Producer

www.umcgiving.org

lcarey@umcom.org

Giving means thinking positively.

 “Make the most of every chance you get.   These are desperate times.” 

(Ephesians 5:16 The Message)

Tornadoes in the Midwest, tsunamis and earthquakes around the world, spring floods on the East Coast and along the Mississippi River, state and national budget controversies and rising gas prices. 

The apostle Paul writes, “Make the most of every chance you get.  These are desperate times.”   How will we as United Methodists make the most of every chance we get during these desperate times?  For one thing, we’ve just come through another tax season.   I’m always amazed that no matter what kind of a year we’ve had – good or bad – we always find a way to pay our taxes.

If you examine your tax return and you wish you had given Jesus a bit more so that you could give Uncle Sam a bit less, we invite you to consider starting now for next year.   “Resurrect your finances” during the Easter season.   Here are some suggestions:

• Make the first check you write each pay period, or the first automatic withdrawal you make, be a “thank you” gift to God.  
• Instead of buying your children or grandchildren candy and trinkets for Easter or graduation, consider a gift in their honor to help victims of a natural disaster through UMCOR or to your church’s portion of our shared mission (apportionments).
• Give at least 50% of the total you might spend on a vacation or special events during the summer to the ministry of Christ.
• Try tithing; i.e., giving 10% of your income to the church for 3 months during the summer or fall.

--from Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation

God Is Still In Control!

Miss Lladale Carey
Web Content Producer
www.umcgiving.org
lcarey@umcom.org

God's Will On Earth

Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on the earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread... 

-- Matthew 6: 9-11 (Amplified Bible) 

During the early winter of this past year, a married couple in one of the congregations in our charge approached me and asked, a little hesitantly, if they could talk to me about something important. "Of course... let's talk," I replied. They then proceeded to talk to me about an extended member of the community who was dear to their hearts -- Mr. Sam, they called him.

Mr. Sam is an African American gentleman in his late nineties who has been a part of the family since the days long before the marriage of this couple. As they shared stories, I saw the mist of tears expressing deep abiding emotion and love for this elderly gentleman.

Their question to me was: Would I be willing to go and visit Mr. Sam?

Even though Mr. Sam is in his nineties he still mows grass and works to earn a living. This church has extended grace by providing groceries for Mr. Sam including a great Sunday dinner each and every week. I was so taken with this request we set a date for me to return and meet Mr. Sam. So, on a Sunday afternoon we met. Chip rode with me to Mr. Sam's residence. When we arrived, we were met at the door of this humble home with a smile and a welcoming handshake. This began a warm friendship and now I consider Mr. Sam a part of our congregation.

Reading Scripture with Mr. Sam, sharing the continuing story of the Gospel, and praying with this fine man has now become a part of my regular monthly pattern of pastoral care; I am fed by his warm hospitality and spirit. As we talk, Mr. Sam tells me about his granddaughter who is a doctor, and shares stories of his wife and their years of joy and laughter. Chip and his wife always let me know what is happening with Mr. Sam, and I look forward to each visit with anticipation and joy knowing that I can share with him more of the love of Christ.

I wonder if we see how God's will is done on earth as it has already been accomplished in heaven in acts of Grace. Mr. Sam receives physical bread through an act of generosity, but I wonder also if he realizes that his relationship with us constantly feeds our souls. -- Kathy Price

Prayer: Gracious heavenly Father, during this Lenten season, we ask you to assist us in bringing the message of Christ, the living bread, to hungry hearts. Assist us as we lead others to the wells of salvation that they may draw deeply from you that which satisfies us spirit, soul, and body. In Christ's holy name: Amen 

by Kathy Price is pastor of the Desoto Charge in Clarke County.

Lenten Devotionals from the MS Annual Conference

God Is Still In Control!

Miss Lladale Carey

Web Content Producer

www.umcgiving.org

lcarey@umcom.org

Feel the Breeze

Read Matthew 18:21-35 

Then Peter came and said to him, 'Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 

-- Matthew 18:21-22 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." It has always been interesting that "Church folk" seem to be the ones whose feelings are easily hurt. It was a concern even with the disciples (as stated in the text.)

Often when there is something said or done we retaliate, saying or doing something even more ridiculous. We then assume the character of the unforgiving servant.

In the parable of Matthew 18, Jesus clearly asked the question of the wicked servant "Should you not have had compassion on his fellow servant as the master had forgiven him?" It must be terribly depressing to be burdened with a grudge against someone. To hold onto any negative causes much stress.

To forgive and be forgiven relieves one of stress and depression and gives a feeling comparable to walking in the right sunshine and feeling the breeze of a balmy spring day. Forgiveness makes you free. Freedom in Jesus is freedom indeed. -- Juanita Franklin

Prayer: Gracious heavenly father, thank you for your forgiving love and grace. Enable us to be forgiving and loving as you loved us. We pray in the name of Jesus, your son and our brother. Amen

by Juanita Franklin is St. Paul United Methodist Church in Foxworth and serves as chairperson, of the Conference Commission on Religion and Race.

Lenten Devotional from the MS Annual Conference

God Is Still In Control!

Miss Lladale Carey

Web Content Producer

www.umcgiving.org

lcarey@umcom.org

Grace

For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God. 

-- Ephesians 2:8 Amplified Bible (AMP) 

I am sitting in my office looking at two paintings given to me by my aunt, Pat Hines. Both paintings depict churches with people heading toward worship. The settings are filled with beautiful trees, dirt roads, and people in simpler, older times. The paintings are beautifully done by a very talented artist. They came into my possession as gifts.

I never saw the paintings until they were given to me. It is not that I asked for them. It is not that I offered to buy them from her. And I can think of nothing that I have done for my aunt that would trigger this generous gift. The reality is that she chose to give them to me because she chose to give them to me. And that is grace.

We so often claim to be a people of grace, but our conversations are filled with must, should, and ought. We lay burdens upon ourselves in order to achieve grace. And then we are really good about laying burdens upon others before we deem them worthy of God's grace. But the text reminds us that grace is God's unmerited favor. Salvation is the gift of God.

I invite you to just sit in the sunshine of God's grace. Then look around and see who might need some light in their lives? -- Mike Hicks

Prayer: Lord, thank you for choosing to give your best to me just because. Amen

by Mike Hicks is the District Superintendent of the Hattiesburg District.

Lenten Devotional from the MS Annual Conference

God Is Still In Control!

Miss Lladale Carey

Web Content Producer

www.umcgiving.org

lcarey@umcom.org