John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
I walked into church Sunday morning, always looking for new people to greet, saw a couple ladies I didn't recognize and went to introduce myself. The one lady said she had come years ago and that I actually talked with her then...about being divorced. I did not remember her face but I do remember the conversation and have actually always wondered what happened to her!?
When she came in that first time years ago she was hurting and afraid because she was newly divorced. I told her I understood, I was divorced as well and could relate to her fears. Oh how I wanted her to feel she was in a safe place! Her daughter was with her this time who also went through a painful divorce. We sat and talked about being OK being single and HOW you move forward. That you must take the time to heal and become whole again through Jesus Christ. Be God-centered and complete in Him.
It took me a loooong time to tell my story of divorce, but it's a big part of my testimony, and what a testimony it is, because it doesn’t just have the sin, it has the redemptive grace of God all through it.
When I read the real-life stories in the bible, they are literally life to my soul.
God recorded and preserved them, the honest, messy and sinful account. I’m so glad, because I can relate to the Women in John 8 and John 4. I’m quite positive adultery and divorce were forever a part of their story. Both of these ladies though had a moment in time where they crossed paths with the living God and were never the same!
The Woman at the Well in John 4 even became quite an evangelist. She ran back to her city and here is what happened:
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me ALL things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him…And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which TESTIFIED, He told me ALL that ever I did.
Jesus said to the adulterous women in John 8:
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Because John 3:17-18:
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God is concerned about salvation and truth.
And if he wants to use our messy lives to bring that about then by all means he can and will. That makes me giddy, because he and only he takes away that shame and actually glorifies himself through it….beauty for ashes!! I want to encourage anyone else who has gone through deep hurts that you can be redeemed, you can move forward. You don’t have to live in them and you can be free to share the testimony of God in your life THAT it may bring others to him! SHINE my friends!!!
For the gospels sake, Melanie
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