The Thorn in our flesh

We all have those things we struggle with, and for some of use there is one struggle in particular that Satan continues to use against us.  I was reading a book the other day, and the author spoke of the adulteress woman in John 8.

"Early in the morning he came again to the temple.  All the people cam to him, and he sat down and taught them.  The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, 'Teacher, this woman had been caught in the act of adultery.  Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a women.  So what do you say?'  This they said to test him that they might have some charge to bring against him.  Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, 'Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.'  And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.  But when they heard it, they wen away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.  Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?'  She said, 'No one, Lord.'  And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."

Have you ever been caught in one of those sins that is "worthy of being stoned"?  Or have you ever known someone who has been caught in a sin like this?  There are few things from this text that stick out to me.  One is that Jesus was writing something in the dirt.  He did it twice in this passage.  What was he writing?  Maybe he was writing scripture or maybe he was writing down the sins of her accusers, who knows?  That's a question for heaven. :)

Second, I notice how the first accusers to walk away were the older ones.  Why?  Maybe, because they have known the depths of their sin.  The longer we live, the more we fail.  I know, that I give grace more quickly now than I did before.  I've known the depths of God's grace in my heart, and I know my heart is sinful.  I think Jesus exposed the hearts of these pharisees and for some they knew they were no less worthy than this adulteress woman.  Oh friends, let us show grace and love those caught in sin!

Third, I am most convicted by the part that says, "Go, and from now on sin no more."  I'm sure this adulteress woman was so grateful towards this man who just saved her life and forgave her of a sin she could not escape herself.  I'm sure she vowed to never walk down that road again.  However, I wonder what the rest of her story is like.  Did she ever struggle in this area again?  Did she become a faithful follower of Jesus?  I can imagine that she chose to follow Jesus, but I wonder if she struggled.  I've struggled with sin and God has forgiven me.  He has said to go and sin no more, but I continue to fail, and I often fail in the same areas.  I struggle with the very thing that has caused so much pain.  I've known God's great grace, so why is my flesh so weak?  Oh God, give me your strength so that I can stand against Satan's schemes.  Satan is after my heart and he knows my weaknesses.  Lord, help me to go and sin no more!   I realize when I spend less time with Jesus and try to live this life on my own, I'm open to Satan's attacks.  I need Jesus and I need accountability.

Pauls speaks of the thorn in his flesh.  We don't really know what it was, but we know he struggled with it often.  We all have a thorn in our flesh.  Lord give us grace, and the strength to stay close to You!