“Condemn You?”
“She said, "No one, Lord. And Jesus said to her,
"Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (John 8:11, NKJV)
Dear family of friends,
In January of 2014 I
watched a taped recording of the Larry King NOW show, because his guest was
Joel Olsteen. I like Joel. Many times he had encouraged me when I watched his
weekly TV program broadcast from Lakewood Church in Houston, TX.
On a few occasions I
was able to attend the Sunday morning service personally. After one meeting,
when people were invited to meet him, I did. He and his wife Victoria were very
nice. As I said, I like Joel.
I didn’t know Joel was
going to be on Larry’s show. I didn’t even know Larry had a show anymore, after
he no longer did the Larry King Live series. But due to the Charisma magazine
e-mail notice I did receive, and the caption with Joel, I checked it out.
The actual headline of the website article proclaimed, “Joel Osteen Discusses Why He Won't Preach Against
Homosexuality” (1/15/2014, CHARISMA
MAGAZINE). The TV program was actually quite good, and a lot more than what the
headline had just stated. Joel gave honest, forth right answers. Did I say I
like Joel yet?
If you are as I, many of you work in a “secular”
job" - as in “not full time ministry”. (Actually, I did that for 24 years –
in full time Christian ministry. I am very grateful for that time serving the
Lord in that capacity and atmosphere, for the most part.) On these secular jobs
we have now, there may be some who are not totally saved as we would like them
to be. Yes, it is true. Many are not as us. It is though, in my daily prayers, that they will know the Savior Lord Jesus, as well
as the Father and the Holy Spirit.
When I shared the website link to Larry and Joel’s
time talking, on my Love For His People blog, which then, due to modern
technology, gets reposted to my two Facebook, four Twitter, Google+, and other
social media accounts automatically, the comments began. Some were judgmental,
in response to the headlines on homosexuality. (I assumed they didn't take the time to actually watch the
show, given the swift judgement.) “Joel is a heathen! Joel is a false teacher and leads many astray!” 2
Timothy was also quoted, about “turning away from the truth”…and so on.
My heart goes out to the ones that Jesus died for. I
pray for the opportunity to share His love for them, for likeyou and I, they need the
Savior too – to free them from a lifestyle of sin, hurt, and eternity apart from
the Lord’s presence. And as He has given me a marketplace job, which happens to be in the
midst of some of these who are “not saved”, I am continually asking Him how I
can be His light in their world.
At the top of this letter I quoted from John 8:11.
The preceding verses are as written, “Now early in the morning He came again
into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught
them. Then 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. 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 did not hear. 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." And
again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
Then 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. 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." (John 8:1-11, NKJV)
I like Joel. I love Jesus. And I love those whom He
has set in place amongst me on the job. I need His heart and wisdom even more
to express that love to them, so they too can know He does not condemn them, but
wants them to know Him also.
I am convinced He will be with me in doing that.
Ahava to my family of
friends,
Steve Martin
Founder, Love For His
People
P.S. This is my 100th Ahava Love Letter. Thank you Lord!
P.S.S. Here is the Charisma article and Larry King NOW TV show link.
Click here: Charisma Magazine with Larry King & Joel Olsteen
P.S.S. Here is the Charisma article and Larry King NOW TV show link.
Click here: Charisma Magazine with Larry King & Joel Olsteen
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Ahava Love Letter #100
“Condemn You?”
Steve Martin
Date: In the year of
our Lord 2014 (01.16.14) Thursday at 6:30 pm in Charlotte, NC).
All previous editions
of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest
website: https://www.www.ahavaloveletters.blogspot.com
