Tag: condemnation

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Throwing Stones

Daily Reading

John 7-8

Daily Thought

A woman committing adultery was caught by the religious leaders and brought before Jesus. How they caught her and where was the man would be interesting questions, but Jesus did not ask. Instead, they challenged Jesus, “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” (John 8:5). Would the one who claimed to be the Son of God execute God’s justice? Jesus bent down and began writing in the dirt. Many have guessed at what he wrote, but it does not matter. He simply took his time and unnerved the accusers, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). The Judge rendered his judgment, and one by one, the prosecution walked away. 

Only one person standing there could throw a stone, but he did not. Jesus freed the sinful woman (for she indeed was guilty) from her accusers. Now he would free her from her sin. “Has no one condemned you?” Jesus asked. She shook her head no. “Neither do I,” said the one who could have, “now stop sinning” (John 8:10-11). 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). The scribes and Pharisees, accusing the woman, were slaves to sin themselves (none picked up a stone). A religion consumed only with sin seeks only to condemn, an effort, I suppose, to make oneself better by comparison. But the One without sin seeks to set you free, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17).

Daily Prayer

Father of grace and mercy, I have given You every reason to condemn me and cast me away. By Your mercy, you do not give me what I deserve, but You paid the penalty for me. By Your grace, you give me what I do not deserve and call me righteous and holy, a saint.

May I learn from Your grace and mercy and do the same in this world. May I be one who does not condemn, but restores. May I be one who gives grace and shows love to others, no matter what they deserve. May I love my friends and my enemies, my neighbor as myself.

Amen

Daily Question

What have you done that Jesus would condemn?

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Judge Not

Daily Reading

Matthew 7-8

Daily Thought

John 3:16 may be the best-known verse in the Bible among Christians, but the one most quoted by the world is Matthew 7:1–“Judge not, that you be not judged”–often employed to provide biblical cover to an “I can do whatever I want” lifestyle. The rub comes a few verses later, however, when Jesus says, “Beware of false prophets” (Matthew 7:15), which is an invitation to judge, “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:20), clearly judging them by their actions. 

So, which is it, to judge or not to judge? That is the question.

One thing for sure, everyone will be judged. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne” (Matthew 25:31). There comes a day when Jesus will judge and that judgment final. Jesus will sit on the throne of God and we will each stand before him. Some will contest, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” In final judgment, Jesus will respond, “I never knew you; depart from me” (Matthew 7:22-23). You do not want to be one of those. 

This final judgment of Jesus ought to relieve me of my hunger to judge. No one is getting away with anything, and that includes me.

Perhaps the solution is found in our favorite verse, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” We stop too soon. We should keep reading, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). The Bible is full of “you shall” and “you shall nots,” and the prophets judged people according to these standards, not to condemn, but to turn people toward God’s love. This is the heart of “Judge not, that you be not judged.” It is not our place to condemn, but to prepare each other to meet God. 

“First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” ~Matthew 7:5

God’s grace given to you, you give to others to help others see clearly, because when someone truly sees clearly, they truly see God and his saving grace and are prepared to stand before his throne.

Daily Prayer

Wonderful God, what a great work You do in my life. You meet me where I am, a sinner, and embrace me and live in me and change me from the inside out. There is nothing I did or do to deserve this. It is only because of Your love and grace that I see salvation. Then you never stop saving me, transforming my heart and mind so that what I do displays Your grace and truth. May others see that same grace and truth in me and find you.

Amen

Daily Question

How do you feel when you see a friend living a life full of sin? What should you do about it?

Posted on

Throwing Stones

Daily Reading

John 7-8

Daily Thought

A woman committing adultery was caught by the religious leaders and brought before Jesus. How they caught her and where was the man would be interesting questions, but Jesus did not ask. Instead, they challenged Jesus, “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” (John 8:5). Would the one who claimed to be the Son of God execute God’s justice? Jesus bent down and began writing in the dirt. Many have guessed at what he wrote, but it does not matter. He simply took his time and unnerved the accusers, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). The Judge rendered his judgment, and one by one, the prosecution walked away. 

Only one person standing there could throw a stone, but he did not. Jesus freed the sinful woman (for she indeed was guilty) from her accusers. Now he would free her from her sin. “Has no one condemned you?” Jesus asked. She shook her head no. “Neither do I,” said the one who could have, “now stop sinning” (John 8:10-11). 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). The scribes and Pharisees, accusing the woman, were slaves to sin themselves (none picked up a stone). A religion consumed only with sin seeks only to condemn, an effort, I suppose, to make oneself better by comparison. But the One without sin seeks to set you free, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17).

Daily Prayer

Father of grace and mercy, I have given You every reason to condemn me and cast me away. By Your mercy, you do not give me what I deserve, but You paid the penalty for me. By Your grace, you give me what I do not deserve and call me righteous and holy, a saint.

May I learn from Your grace and mercy and do the same in this world. May I be one who does not condemn, but restores. May I be one who gives grace and shows love to others, no matter what they deserve. May I love my friends and my enemies, my neighbor as myself.

Amen