“How great a God is He who gives God.”- Augustine
“Grace is God loving, God stooping, God coming to the rescue, God giving himself generously in and through Jesus Christ.”- John Stott
In Chapter 2 (“The God Who Stoops”) of Grace, author Max Lucado begins with the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). Pastor Lucado notes that while no one would speak for the woman, Someone would stoop for her. Rather than addressing the Pharisees and teachers of religious law, Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust (v.6). Jesus descended lower than anyone else, so that the woman’s accusers had to look down even farther. Max describes the Jesus who stoops:
“”He’s prone to stoop. He stooped to wash feet, to embrace children. Stooped to pull Peter out of the sea, to pray in the Garden. He stooped before the Roman whipping post. Stooped to carry the cross. Grace is a God who stoops.”
Just like the woman caught in adultery, we have our accusers. Our accusers could be those directly/indirectly responsible for our ministry downsizing or vocation loss. We even could be our own accusers! Pastor Lucado emphasizes that Jesus has a question for us: “Where are your accusers?”
Satan longs to perpetuate such accusations because Satan never shuts up. His accusations bring no repentance or resolve, unlike the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Jesus not only stoops, He rises to our defense in defiance of Satan!
Today’s question (from Max Lucado): Imagine what your life would be like if you didn’t worry about your past, waking up tomorrow with no regrets, shame, or feelings of failure. How would his realization alter your daily life, your decisions, your actions, your goals? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the new Short Meditation, “Heart and Soul”
