The story of the “woman caught in adultery” has been the topic of many a pastor’s sermon over the years.  This unnamed woman endured a round of public humiliation that would have tempted most of us to curl up in the fetal position and stay there for days.

John 8 opens with Jesus at a temple teaching some folks.  As this was going on, a group of Pharisees brought a woman who’d been caught in adultery and made her “stand in the center”.  Putting her on public display, the religious leaders of that time wanted to then embark in a bantering session with Jesus over Mosaic law.

Jesus didn’t take the bait.  He all but ignored them and, in the end, extends compassion, grace, and forgiveness to this woman.

Can you identify with her?  While the literal details may not be identical, how often have you felt like the world, your own flesh, or the devil has you “standing in the center” with your sins, shortcomings, and overwhelming failures thrusting you into the eyes of shameful attention and uninvited judgement?

Can I share something with you?  No one was made to stand in the center except Jesus!  Not us…not ever!

How often do we exchange God’s daily promises of love, joy, and peace because we’re obsessing in our thoughts over something we’ve done in our past that is “standing in the center” of our attention?  As a result, we spiral into a whirlpool of guilt and shame – real or imagined – instead of fixing our gaze upon the King, who already took that public display of humiliation so that we wouldn’t have to.

The simplicity is this: “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9).  All means all – every past indiscretion, unsavory bit of speech or conduct, hang-up or hurt, trauma or pain.

Putting Jesus in the center of our attention daily ensures that our focus is in the right place!  Our hearts and minds are free to love others as He loved us and to extend HIS compassion, grace, and forgiveness to those around us!

WHO is standing in the center of your attention today?

Until next time, Grace and Glory!