But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:5 (NIV)
Not committers, but causers by Cathy Vinson |
We may not be committers, but are we
causers? Here Jesus is addressing a generation of Law-abiding men who are casually
divorcing their wives. Jesus had a radical thing to say to them. They were, in turn, the
"cause" of the woman's adultery, which would become yet the committal of even
another (vs 32). Jesus spoke the clear word of Heaven's evaluation whether they liked it or not. The ex-husband might argue that he himself had nothing to do with whose arms the woman ends up within. He didn't lure, he didn't push, he didn't attract her to another. Jesus, however is telling him that in Heaven's eyes, he is the cause. He left her unshielded, unprotected, alone and vulnerable to the arms of the Tempter. See Jesus' primary concern for the result on the human soul, in this case the woman, her conscience, her purity, her state before God. He knew the effects putting her aside would have on her, and in most cases would be pushing her to another. She would commit, but the cause is laid on him. Certainly this holds true in other areas, areas where we are given authority. Someone may sin, but did our lack of giving money, bread, education, guidelines, truth, love, acceptance, security create the enviroment conducive for that person to be unprotected from the Tempter's lure? Maybe we are not the committers (and may be aghast at them that are). But, perhaps we are the causers. As the light of the world, having that authority and responsibility, could it be that we will have to answer for an environment where such sins are committed? |
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| "...causes her to
commit..." (Matthew 5:32) |
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Send a note to Cathy Vinson , the writer of this devotion.
Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE
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