Oh how we love to point fingers! As we see in John 8:1-30, pointing out the sin of others took place in the Bible, and it hasn't stopped ever since. Some of it is well-intended--we just really want people to escape the pain that follows sin. But, some of it is done, well, to make ourselves look better. But, Jesus had a better way of dealing with sin and the people who did the finger pointing.
With a few clever words, Jesus not only showed mercy to this woman and her sin but revealed the sinful hearts of her persecutors as well. He had a lesson for both sides. And it was the perfect mix of firmness and love. How amazing!
So, have you ever been shown this same kind of grace--by God or a friend or family member? If so, let me know what effect it had on you. Have you had the opportunity to extend the same kind of grace to others? Hope to hear from you. Tami W.
oh yes i have and remember always,i just meet someone who claims he wanted to marry me,so decided to get to know him.now i was living RIGHTOES so i believe,he just rededicated to the lord that meant he was backslidden.and during that time i was complaining how he did this and that, and by my kitchen sink the lord spoke with rebuke and love to me-The flaws you see in him is a reflect of yourself- i felt so hurt and upset because i was 'righteous'never did it again. AND RESENTLY i had to speak to my neighbour about pointing finger and gossip about a person nearby unsave living in sin ,she being a beliver joining unsave in that,so i prayed and the lord let me with his fear and love to remind her of her response to believers and none believers, it was very very humbling. We really must learn by the things we suffer,and remember who is the only JUDGE,or we will be judge.
I know personally I have done the same thing. God revealed to me also that just because I had overcome the same "sinful act" that a friend of mine was going through that it was her walk with God and not mine. I was and am supposed to be there for comfort, not condemnation. I am and are supposed to be a loving friend, there to help her through her times of trouble. God loves each of us the same no matter what we have done or are going through at the moment. Once we realize that God doesn't have favorties we are humbled enough to just love.
Everything that you guys have said is so true. I get a little upset about some of the things my family members do. But I have to remember that there was a time when I was doing some of the same things. I am save now and I can not pass judgments' on others. All I can do is just pray for them and try and lead them in the direction of knowing the Lord. That is what the lord would want all of us to do. dg
Something that has always intreged me about this event is that the law required two or more wittnesses. That would have been the scribes and the Pharisees right? So that ment they not only were eye witnesses to the sin taking place (saw a naked woman) but also maybe did nothing to keep her/him back from sinning. And where was the other party? Was that person among them at the moment? Jesus tells us and them that he and the Father knows us better than we know ourselves. He and the Father are eye wittnesses of our hearts. Think on that a moment. He knows what we are going to do before we do it. I HURT when I see someone caught in a whirlpool of sin. It pains me to see anyone being pulled down. Just resently a man life was taken because someone wanted him to stop sinning. Who are we to know what would be in that (now dead) mans future. Maybe if he had lived, he would have repented and servived the Lord by his testamony. But we dont know so we cant judge. We dont have all the facts.
I am just reminded that all of us are broken- and all need the healing that Jesus promises. Realizing my own brokenness, even/especially as a pastor (past life), led me to be better able to forgive, or decide not to judge others' hearts so quickly.
I can choose not to be a part of something, or not agree with the actions of others without judging their motives- which only they know for sure. Who knows what led the woman in this passage to lead the life that she was? Jesus only.
Who knows why people do what they do? Jesus only. It is God's place to judge, not mine. Only He has the knowledge, power, wisdom, and authority to judge justly- so as often as I can, in my brokenness, I try to defer judgment to Him.
Just remember that talking to someone about sin or things going on in their life is not the same thing as JUDGING them as people. God's judgment is for either salvation or damnation. We probably aren't doing that when we see a friend stumble. What good is it really to see a friend walk off a cliff and then offer them a bandaid (but of course only if they realize they just walked off a cliff)? Is that love? I have seen Christians keep mum when they see a friend in trouble just because they are afraid to be seen as judgmental. That's actually pretty cowardly and NOT VERY FRIENDLY. The pharisees did the same thing (although for different motives) by waiting until sins were completed to act. We want to wait until the Lord convicts a person of their sin and then we will talk to them about it. But the LORD uses his people for this purpose. You would never wait to see what happens to a child playing in traffic; You would yank them back on the sidewalk where it's safe. I would do the same thing and hope some one would do it for me. We all need to love each other enough to speak up sometimes. Even Paul got into Peter's face when he needed it and for Peter's own good. I want friends like that.