Today’s Reading: John 8:1-11
Hearing God’s Voice for Today:
“He stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And even more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.”
* * * * *
A woman had been caught in the act of adultery. The religious leaders badgered Jesus to have her stoned to death in accordance with the Law of Moses. They tried relentlessly to entrap him. If he had agreed she should be stoned to death, he would have been accused of having a hard heart and no compassion. If he hadn’t agreed, they would have accused him of not obeying the Law of Moses.
In anger and arrogance, the crowd clutched their stones. Jesus’ slightest nod of approval would have triggered the first stone to be hurled. His response was different than anticipated. He asked for the person who had never sinned to throw the first stone.
Then Jesus continued to write in the sand. What did he write? Some believe he scribbled down the sins of those ready to jettison rocks— their lack of compassion, their hypocrisy, pride, arrogance, and self-righteousness. Perhaps he wrote the name of the woman—whose life he lovingly clutched in his hands.
Then the Holy Spirit began to prick the hearts of those in the crowd. Slowly but surely, he convicted them of their own sins. As the defenseless woman quivered in fear, each person began dropping the stones they were clutching—beginning with the oldest.
This is how it should be. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But the older a person becomes, the more aware he is of his wicked, selfish, and deceitful heart. The longer people live, the more opportunities they’ve had to realize their selfish motives and actions.
People love Jesus in direct proportion to how great a sinner they know themselves to be. If you don’t think you’ve sinned much, you won’t love him much. But if you know you are a great sinner, you will love him greatly.
Today, open your heart wide to the convictions of the Holy Spirit. Let him prick your heart of your pride. Let him make you aware of your arrogance. Let him confront your lack of compassion. Let him expose your hypocrisy. Let him reveal how far you have fallen short of the Father’s perfect will for your life.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. They alone know God’s kingdom. Blessed are those who mourn over the sinful condition of their soul. They alone receive the comfort of his forgiveness and grace. Blessed are the broken. They alone know the fullness of his love.
Are you broken today? Have you come to grips with your rebellion against God?
If so, you are ready to drop your stones of self-righteousness and receive Jesus’ full forgiveness, grace, mercy, love, and kindness. Your guilt is gone. You are made right with God. His love lives inside you.
You will go and sin no more. You will love the Lord more than you love your sin.
Realizing your sinfulness is the necessary first step in your relationship with him.
[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]