Lectio Divina

Text relating to the sermon/discussion at The River this Sunday: John 8:1-11 TNIV

• A woman caught in adultery.
• Guilty woman... possibly set up to fail.
• Bloodthirsty Pharisees... trying to set yet another trap.
• Jesus... always an astonishing answer.
• A case of legal imperative, or deep introspection?
• She made a mistake... but received forgiveness.
• The religious leaders just walked away... frustrated.
• Jesus confounded the wise, and set her free... using less than 30 words.
• What Satan meant to use for harm, God made beautiful.
• What character do you most identify with?

Each week, I give you a link to the biblical text, assuming you'll click on it and read it for yourself. But today, I'm going to give you the full text... and encourage you to soak it in for awhile. Let it speak to you.

This Sunday, we're going to employ an ancient method of interacting with Scripture that involves far more than your intellect. It is called Lectio Divina, and if you're willing to quiet yourself and listen to what He's saying... God will reveal Truth into your heart in fresh new ways through this approach.

Are you ready? Good... then first is LECTIO (reading). Read through the text slowly, carefully repetitively. Pay attention to details that you normally miss when you skim over a text. Don't rush. Pray over the text and ask God to show you new details you've never noticed before.

¹ but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
   ² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
   But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
   ⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
   ¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.

   “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Have you read it a few times through? Did you pay careful attention to details such as who, what, where and when?  Good, the next phase is MEDITATIO (meditation). Read the text through once again, but this time seek to listen with your heart as well as your mind. Know that through this text, Jesus wants to reveal Himself more fully to you. So consciously open yourself to the Lord. Are you the woman who is guilty (and in need of pardon)? Or a member of the religious council, unwilling to forgive a dirty "sinner"? Perhaps you can relate to both characters? What does God want to say to you through this story?

The third phase is ORATIO (prayer). Okay, God has spoken to you. He has revealed something to you... encouragement that comforts you, or a warning that rattles you a bit. Say a prayer to God, thanking Him for shining His light into your heart, and speaking to you, His child.  Let Him know you're listening, and you desire to walk in alignment with His will. For a few moments, just abandon yourself to soaking in God's holy presence, and admiring His grace.

The fourth and final phase of Lectio Divina is CONTEMPLATIO (contemplation). This is God's response to us. After praying to Him, simply wait on the Holy Spirit to breathe resurrection life into your soul.  Believe and expect that God wants to whisper in your ear as you open your heart to His all-knowing gaze. It may be something you can wrap your head around, and then again, you may just walk away having encountered a deep, intimate moment with the Savior. Either way, know that God has used your willingness to read, meditate, pray and contemplate His words for His glory and for your benefit. He wants to shape you into the image of His Son, and this ancient spiritual discipline is an excellent way to learn how to surrender your will to His.

Okay, now let's see how we can encounter Him in an entirely new way as we practice Lectio Divina together this coming Sunday!