What’s one of the nicest things someone has ever done for you? Do you think about that very often?
Human nature tends to focus on the bad, and so we tend to remember more of the bad things people have done to us than the good things people have done for us.
When I think about my own life, I know I would not be doing the things I’m doing if not for a few good people who did some very nice things for me.
In Matthew Chapter 8, Jesus does something nice for a particular woman. The corrupt leaders of the church at that time were wanting to put this woman to death. They asked Jesus what they should do.
Jesus didn’t answer them right away but started writing in the sand. When they kept asking him about it, he straightened up and said, “He who is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he bent down and started writing again.
All of the accusers, starting with the older ones to the younger ones, left. Jesus stood up again and looked around and there was no one there except Jesus and the woman. Jesus told her that he does not condemn her.
Jesus taught us two things about God in that passage. First, he taught us that God is in the business of second chances. He knows none of us are perfect, and so He continues to offer to us second chances to make things right, to make the right decisions, to do the right things.
Then he taught us that God looks beneath the surface. He knows that none of us are perfect, but He looks beyond the surface to see what we can become. And that should give all of us a great hope.
What does God see in your life that He wants to draw out and use? There’s probably more than one thing, but probably several things. This should change our minds about the nature of God.
He doesn’t only look for the bad in our lives but gives us second chances to do the right things, and he sees what’s below surface that He would like to use — if we will let him use those things.
Kevin Powell started at Northside Christian Church in July 2017. This weekly column is written by local clergy members. Send comments to [email protected].
