Flaws AND All!

Plastic surgery, mega diets, make-over shows - you name it, it’s out there. So many in our society go to great lengths to cover up or eliminate their physical flaws. Psychiatrists are becoming very wealthy as a result of people’s desires to fix their mental and emotional flaws. How many relationships do you think have ended due to one person being unable to deal with the flaws of the other? How many have foolishly chosen to end their own life because they no longer wanted to deal with their own flaws?
So many long to be loved and accepted by their fellowman that they go through a lot to gain that love and acceptance. They give themselves sexually; become a bully or even murder just to be loved and recognized by another or to love themselves. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that which has been, is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Even in the beginning, there were many who struggled with their flaws, whether they were self inflicted, inherited, or forced on them.
In John Chapter 8 Jesus was on the Mount of Olives teaching when in verse 3 we see that the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him “teacher this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.” I wonder where she was committing adultery for scribes and Pharisees to “catch” her. In John 8:5-6 they continued, “Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger as though He didn’t not hear them. At the start of this passage you might think, they were trying to expose her but actually they were using her and her sins as bait, looking for flaws in Jesus!
John 8:7 says “so when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Jesus knew those accusing the woman were not as perfect as they were pretending to be. But instead of calling them out He gave them the opportunity to expose themselves. Luke 6:42 says, “or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” How can we even attempt to help others when we are not in the place we need to be in God? Why update your FACEBOOK status with scriptures you don’t use? Take the time to read and live them and then post them. The best help you can offer anyone is to first be an example; the scripture makes that very clear.
John 8:9 says, “those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst.” Once those flaw-searching accusers stopped to consider themselves, they discovered their own flaws and decided to leave the woman alone to deal with her flaws.
Verse 10 states “When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her “Woman where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”
Even though He knew she had sinned, Jesus knew how to speak to the woman with love and compassion. His words were stern but he allowed her to make the right decision for herself. He did not try to force her to live right, like those in the crowd had. He does us the same way today. Despite our flaws He is forever giving us His love. He already gave His life for us. Now all we have to do is give Him our heart; flaws and all. And allow Him to transform us into the children of God, He meant for us to be. Think about it.
Published in "On the Rocks Arrest" 3/13/12 And SoulFusion Magazine May 2012 Issue