Updated Feb 24, 2010 at 9:29 a.m. JAN - FEB 2010 Edition

My Dad's Memoriam:


Donate Prayer Letter:

 PS  Interest Survey

 

Home |Expressions |Impressions |Hotpressions |News| Greek Life |Education |Entertainment |Multimedia |Sports | Food |CulturalLife |Features| Archives | Top 5

EXPRESSIONS

Custom Search

“Adultery Dangerously Unites Lust Towards Everyone Rejecting Emancipating Redeemer! (A.D.U.L.T.E.R.E.R)

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." (Mark 10:10-12, NIV)

APPROACH QUESTION:
"How would you define adultery to a friend and why would you define it that way?"

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what word/phrases are repeated?
'Commits adultery' is mentioned twice!
Divorce is mentioned 3 times!
'Marries another' is mentioned twice!

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself the significance of  'commits adultery' being mentioned in relation to marriage and divorce?
Jesus takes divorce so seriously that getting a divorce is likened to committing an act of adultery against the person being divorced if that person marries another. In other words, Jesus is telling the disciples that God does not recognize the validity of a person's marriage, who remarries after the divorce, because in Jesus' eyes, the person is still married to the first. To make the charge of adultery for a remarriage is very serious because with adultery comes the sentence of stoning to death. Once again Jesus reminds the disciples the seriousness of getting a divorce. The charge of adultery shows that there is no faithfulness, there is no love, there is no trust, there is no commitment, and there is no allegiance in the marriage because an act of betrayal has happened.

APPLICATION:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life here?
I saw important implications for my own life here where Jesus reminds me that divorce and remarriage should not even be in my vocabulary because the effect of it would be an act of adultery in the sight of the Lord. Jesus defines adultery to be much more stringent than the definition mankind would go by and I should adhere to the definition of how God defines an act of adultery. But more deeper than that is that I should realize that an act of adultery is a sin committed against the Lord.  Looking at it from a spiritual viewpoint, when I have no faithfulness, no love, no trust, and no allegiance to the Lord and turn my life over to worldly things then I have committed adultery against the Lord because I have married myself to the world instead of Christ. I need Jesus' help to ensure that does not happen. That can happen even in a marriage between husband and wife when things of the world become lust and cloud out the love.

I ask you now dear friend, when have you become an adulterer in life and what now?
Dear friend, I have become an adulterer in life the moment my allegiance has been to anyone more than the Lord. That means when I have been  involved in any area that is not of the Lord, I have committed adultery because I have not been faithful, have not loved, have not trusted, and have not had allegiance to commit to the Lord and His ways but have gone my own way to fulfill my passions. Just as an act of adultery in marriage hurts not only the person committing adultery but all those impacted by it, my actions of doing my own things have not only hurt me but those around me. By those acts, I have become an adulterer at heart. We don't like to think about it in those ways but reflecting on today's devotional made me realize that adultery does not have to be confined to a small box of infidelity against a person sexually but it can expand to other areas.

 Jesus talked about adultery in terms of divorce and remarriage which can be applied to other areas for our lives. When we marry ourselves to anything or anyone that is not of the Lord and approved of the Lord, we are becoming an adulterer at heart. I don't want that for myself or for you.

Even if we have received that label, the Good News is that we do not have to be confined to that label in our lives when we experience the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives. His grace is what frees us from our shame and guilt and sets us back on the path of His righteousness. Even if from a human point of view that label remains, from God's point of view He releases us from that label when we are touched by His grace all because of what Jesus Christ did for you and me at the Cross of Calvary. It is His precious cleansing Blood that reaches us where we are at and purifies us of all our sin.

I am reminded of the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery in John 8. When the religious leaders brought her to Jesus to be stoned claiming Moses' law demanded a stoning by death for those caught in adultery, Jesus' response was 'He who has no sin cast the first stone'. One by one, each of the religious leaders left, leaving the woman alone with Jesus. Jesus says to the woman, 'Has no one condemned you?' 'Neither do I', Go and sin no more.

Jesus is all about redemption and forgiveness. Jesus looked at an adulterous woman and freed her from that label of condemnation. Then, after freeing her from that label of condemnation, he so lovingly tells her, 'Go and sin no more'

Friend, this same Jesus who reached out to the woman caught in the act of adultery reaches out to you and me no matter what area we are labeled as an adulterer. No matter what the world thinks of us, what really matters is how the Lord sees us. The woman did not need to worry about the religious leaders view of her because she found her identity in Christ when Christ restored her.

Jesus wants to do the same for you too when you have gone your own way and have been accused of being an adulterer. Take your sin before the Lord and let Him free you. He will not condemn you but lovingly show you His ways of love using others in your life that will make a positive impact. Find your identity in Christ as He wants you too.

For me recently, it has mainly been six people who have impacted me powerfully especially in my weaknesses. Instead of feeling a sense of condemnation, I have felt a sense of conviction and love. I usually feel that when I interact with my mommy, Pastor Hugo Cheng,  Leela, Edwin, Marie, and Kristen.

No matter how much I have messed up in different areas, undeserved as I am, I have only received encouragement and exhortation from them to pick myself up by my bootstraps and depend on the Lord instead of being hard on myself. Conviction is the word that describes my experiences instead of condemnation. When I interact with them, I have seen Christ's grace being showered upon me through their words that can be backed up with Scripture.

I share this with you because in these days the Lord uses His Word, His church, His Spirit, etc to free us from condemnation but also reminds us just as He reminded the woman caught in adultery, 'Go and sin no more'

We are freed from condemnation not so we can go back into the things that bring condemnation but be freed by them.

"There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, for the life giving Spirit has freed us from the law of sin and death!" (Romans 8:1, NIV)

Friend, Jesus wants to
 free you and me from what binds us and holds us hostage. Yes, He does friend so come as you are in your weaknesses and in your adulterous heart and find your healing and restoration in Christ alone when you confess and repent of your sin of adultery whether it is sexual or non-sexual and lay it before the Lord so that He can give you a new beginning for He will my friend, yes He will! I know He will! Thank you Jesus.

We have to come before Him with all our sins realizing that "there is no one good, not one, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5)

Jesus did that to free us from the wages of sin to give us new life when we turn ourselves over to Him and His plans. No matter how many times we have messed up or how many times we mess up, His grace is infinite and reaches us where we are when we turn to Him. Yes, it does friend so come as you are remembering, "The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:23)

You are never out of His love and never out of His reach! May you come to experience the love of Christ shown through His grace for you to run a transforming race.

"Adultery Dangerously Unites Lust Towards Everyone Rejecting Emancipating Redeemer!" (A.D.U.L.T.E.R.E.R)/"When have you become an A.D.U.L.T.E.R.E.R in life and what now?"

Friend, if you want to give your life to Christ right now and get away from what has made you an adulterer in life leaving you guilt-ridden and in shame because of sin that separates you from God, His forgiveness and grace is available to you right now! Yes, it is friend! Oh yes it is. Friend, you are never out of His love and never out of His reach! Make this your prayer.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I learned today about adultery being the result of remarrying someone after a divorce. Oh Lord, I know you don't like divorce and take it seriously to the point of labeling those who marry after a divorce as an adulterer. Oh Lord, to have that label on humanity is harsh and a shame to them. But, we all deserve that label even if we have not committed a sexual act of infidelity because your definition of adultery is no mankind's definition. You base it on lust even if a sexual act has not occurred. You base it on having no faithfulness, no love, no trust, no allegiance, and no commitment based on what I learned. I am guilty of that in different areas for I have not loved you with my whole heart and have given my allegiances to things that do not please you. I am so sorry Jesus. Yet, even through this all, thank you for helping me to experience your love as you have used your Word to minister unto me and used others in my life. I pray Oh Lord, for your forgiveness of all my sins and repent of them. Help me Jesus to change my ways and transform me by your loving grace so I can live a life worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that I need you in my life to make my heart your home and cover me in your precious blood. Thanks so much Jesus. Please Jesus be my Lord and Personal Savior so You can be the Lord of my life. Help me Jesus. Thanks so much Jesus. Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May you experience the POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION this day, and give Him the LOCKED areas of your life too so you can experience His PEACE as you become an ACTOR in the film called LIFE being directed by your DIRECTOR, JESUS CHRIST who comes to give JOY and PEACE.

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!

"Valiantly Always Love Emphasizing Now Totally Immanuel's Nurturing Emancipation!" (V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E)/"How will you be someone's Valentine using 16?"

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart. You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer.

Dear Jesus, I want to be free. I don’t know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin. I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me of my sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know you have forgiven me when you died on the cross and shed your blood. I want to accept that forgiveness. Thank you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and pounded the nails. Thank you for willingly dying for me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your love using your Blood to redeem all humanity that comes to you. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give us Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I love you Jesus. I want you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when God looks at me, He now sees me covered in Your blood and His judgment passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being with me Lord. Thank you for saving me. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will always be with me and have given me Salvation.  In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.

As a professional, it is not too late to join a church! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus this  new year of 2010! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through.  Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible LIVE Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

 

Express Your View

 

 

 

 2010 DEVOTIONALS:

"Why D.I.V.O.R.C.E the one you marry in life?" (Feb 22, 10, 12:15 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"What do you do with what is P.E.R.M.I.T.T.E.D in your life?" (Feb 20, 10, 10:08 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"How will you be someone's V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E using 16?" (Feb 13, 10,  12:16 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?" (Feb 05, 10, 9:43 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"How can you be a S.A.L.T in someone's life today?" (Feb 04, 10, 11:27 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"What do you help your friends E.S.C.A.P.E from?" (Feb 03, 10, 12:30 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"Why bother with H.E.L.L in life?" (Feb 02, 10, 2:39 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"When are you planning to cut your hand, foot, or eye to escape Hell?"" (Feb 01, 10, 1:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

 "Why heed Jesus' W.A.R.N.I.N.G in your life?" (Jan 30, 10, 12:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

 

CHRISTIAN NEWS:

 

Oakland International Fellowship welcomes incoming students to its worship service on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. near North Dithridge St. followed by Sunday School at 11:30 a.m. and fellowship lunch at 12:30 p.m.

...

 

 
   
 

Copyright 2009 Pittsburgh Standard
Reproduction or reuse for profit prohibited without written consent from Pittsburgh Standard