Despisings!

"Did no one condemn you?" Jesus asked the woman. "No one, Lord." "Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more" (John 8:10,11); "If God is for us, who can be against us?...Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?" (Romans 8:31,33).

There is a lot of condemning in this world, and it started in the Garden with Adam and Eve and the Serpent, which means it has gone on forever and will no doubt go on forever. What a pity! No flower grows under constant wind and pounding rain; neither can the tender flower of childhood mature into the meat of manhood, if mom and/or dad see nothing but the tiny black dot on the big white sheet of paper. We live in a culture of censure; it sells more papers and fills in TV time.

I read something years ago that made a profound impression: "Blessed are those who heal us of self-despisings. Of all services which can be done to man, I know of none more precious" (Mark Rutherford). Mr. Rutherford even suggested making this the Eleventh Beatitude.

Mary became one of God's elect because Jesus showed mercy rather than condemnation. Should we not follow His example and show forbearance to others? We are sinners, too, so why should we point out the tiny speck when we carry a beam of sin ourselves? "Love covers all transgressions," (Proverbs 10:12b NAS) so let us rather love one another than condemn without the facts.
Patricia Erwin Nordman