And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” – John 8:11 NKJV

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So often, those in the church who are struggling with sexual sin are afraid to go to the church for help. Just like the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11, they’re afraid the church leaders will drag them to Jesus and ask Him to stone them. Jesus is different. Instead of condemnation, as we reach out to Him, we experience His love. He offers redemption, cleanses hearts, and empowers us to “go and sin no more”.

Much like the woman at the well in John 4:4-42, transformed lives don’t stop with the one who was directly impacted by Jesus. Historically, it is believed that she came to the well alone during the heat of the day to avoid the rejection and scorn of the other women in the village. They knew her dirty little secrets. Instead of contempt, Jesus looked beyond her sin. He spoke directly to the needs of her heart. When He told her to go and get her husband, she tried to change the subject to something more spiritual. He offered her living water; the only thing that could truly fill the void in her heart. She accepted His offer and her life was transformed forever. The healing didn’t stop there. She went on to evangelize the entire village and introduced them to the Messiah. The impact of a changed life goes far beyond the one who is changed and empowered to “comfort with the comfort that we’ve been comforted with” [2 Corinthians 1:4].

You can walk with brothers and sisters in need. You can help them get past the crowds and obstacles and find healing at the feet of Jesus. You help lower them through the roof to the feet of Jesus [Mark 2:1-12]. You matter. If you’ve already received healing, we at Reconciliation Ministries encourage you to share the healing you’ve already received from Jesus with whomever He puts in your path. If you need healing, reach out to us at 586.739.5114 and ask how we can walk with you to Jesus. If you’re not in our area, we can help you find trustworthy Christians who can help wherever you live. In Christ there is hope. In Christ, you can have a future free of sexual sin. In Christ, you can have an eternal impact.

Jesus Won't Reject You

He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.

Isaiah 42:3 NLT

If you're feeling hopeless and too messed up to come to God, take comfort in that verse from Isaiah. Jesus will accept anyone who comes to Him for help. No matter how messed up you feel. No matter how badly you’ve sinned. Go to Him. He won’t look at you in disgust. He won’t turn away. He won’t snuff out the last smoldering flames in your heart. He offers forgiveness. Jesus can take you out of your emotional pit and give you peace. He can free you from addictive sexual sin. He can heal the wounds of sexual abuse. He will help you if you ask. Jesus may not calm every storm in your life, but He will carry you through the storms. He promises that He will NEVER leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

Learning to walk in the peace and freedom that Jesus offers takes time. It is a process with many ups and downs. Maybe you’ve done good for a while, only to fall again. You might be tempted to give up. Don’t! Come back to the cross. Reach out for help. If you confess your sin, He will forgive you and cleanse your heart (1 John 1:9). Stick with Jesus, and He will complete the work He started in you (Philippians 1:6).

Reconciliation Ministries and the many compassionate men and women on the support team are here to help you. We offer low cost licensed professional counseling, mental health coaching, and prayer ministry. We offer the Living Waters support group to help you overcome sexual and relational brokenness. We’re excited to announce the return of our Mending the Soul group to help you overcome the devastating effects of sexual abuse. There’s so much more. We are here to walk with you. Call us at 586.739.5114.

If you’ve already experienced the healing power of Jesus Christ, you have an important calling. Share your story. Show the love of God to someone who is afraid to hope. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you comfort others with the comfort that you have received (2 Corinthians 1:4). You can help bridge the gap between the church and the sexually broken.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16 NIV

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I’m sure you’re very familiar with John 3:16. It was likely one of the first verses that you ever learned. It’s also a verse we need to be reminded of frequently. We might know this verse in our brains, but it’s important to know this verse in our hearts. God loves us. It doesn’t get am simpler than that. He also made a way for our salvation and transformation. These truths are among the important foundations of our faith. However, we are all very much a work in progress. We are constantly walking in the tension between who God declares that we are, and who we see when we look in the mirror. It is during our times of struggle that we need to remind ourselves of some of the basic foundations of our faith.

• 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

• Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

• Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

May these verses penetrate your heart and transform the way you see yourself. God doesn’t identify us according to our past sin, or even our present failures. He sees us through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ who lives in us. May that truth give us the grace to live according to our true identity in Christ.

Thank you for partnering with Reconciliation Ministries to help others experience the transformational power of Jesus Christ. No one is beyond the power of the cross. No sin is more powerful than the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Your prayers and financial support help men, women, and adolescents find the love of Christ in their lowest moments of sin and abuse. You can change a life by making a tax-deductible donation to Reconciliation Ministries online at www.recmin.org/donate. You can make an eternal difference in the lives of others.

Jesus Can Unlock Your Heart

I saw this lock as I was walking through the neighborhood today. It reminded me of how we can have pain, discouragement, trauma and struggles locked deep inside our hearts. Sometimes we don’t even know where we lost the key or how to get healing. It is during times like this that we need to cry out to Jesus and ask for help. When we don’t even have the strength to cry out, we can look toward Him and merely think, “Help.” He always hears. He is always there. He may not answer in the way we expect, but He will always answer. He knows where the key is.