Stones

“…He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”— John 8:7 NKJV

The statement above was made by Jesus in the story of the woman caught “in the very act” of adultery. I often wonder where the man she was caught in the very act with was!

The scribes and Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus quoting the law of Moses that commands such persons should be stoned. They wanted Jesus’ opinion on Moses’ commandment to test or trap Him with His answer. If Jesus said that the woman should not be stoned, He would have contradicted the Jewish law. If He said the woman should be stoned, He would run counter to Roman law which does not permit Jews to carry out their own capital punishment or executions.

I remember during the height of the MPs’ expenses claims scandal of 2009 in which quite a few high-profile MPs and ministers were caught fiddling with their expense claims. The scandal ran deep into the core of both the Conservative and Labour parties.

I was so vexed about the revelations and scale of dishonesty; I remember screaming at the television, “They should all be investigated, punished and locked up!”

I will never forget the chill that ran through my body as I heard the Spirit of God say to me, “Which of your mistakes and errors have you been locked up over? Are you calling for them to be investigated and punished for their wrong just because they have been found out? How would you feel if I should punish you for all the wrongs you have done or committed against Me?” 

I was completely blinded by my critical spirit to see my own sinfulness! I was so humbled by the rebuke that I immediately repented and thanked God for His grace and mercy.

We live in a fallen world. It’s very easy to condemn those who do bad stuff but completely ignore or overlook our own sinfulness, forgetting we are equally guilty before a holy and righteous God. 

Jesus asked the woman “‘…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 8:10-11 (NKJV)

“If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared” Psalms 130: 3-4 (NKJV).  Another version (NLT) says “Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.”

I am so grateful that God does not mark or keep count of our sins, however, we should not take for granted the grace of God. We should also be eternally grateful for Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and always choose to live our lives in awe and fear of God.

Thanks be to God for giving us another chance. 

Stay blessed,

LaraLex