Best to Err on the Side of Grace

John 8:6-9 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.

It is both amazing and frightening what we see when we look into the mirror of God's Word. These imperfect and hypocritical men were ready to have someone stoned for her sin, when they too deserved to be stoned for their own sins. We do not know what Jesus wrote on the ground, but we do know that there were other occasions that the finger of God wrote in the presence of men. The first time God used His finger to write His commandment on tablets of stone. These ten simple commandments should have made us very much aware of our own imperfections and should have made us aware of how much we need the Savior. The other occasion we know of was when God wrote on the wall of the king's palace in Babylon, pronouncing His judgement upon Babylon and its king. Here we see that whatever Jesus wrote on the ground made each of these men very much aware of their own guilt and made them walk away in shame, as now they had no real standing in being judgmental toward someone who was no greater sinner than they were. We must be careful about how we deal with those who sin against us or with those of whose sins God allows us to be made aware of. We are to always first examine ourselves, realizing that we are just as sinful and guilty, then approach the other person with humility, for the purpose of reconciliation, restoration, or both. If the other person chooses to remain in their sin, then there are appropriate steps outlined for us in God's Word. The point is that even when we are holding others accountable, we must do it in love, and not with hypocrisy and ulterior motives. When it is all said and done, God knows the heart and knows all about our sins, just as much as He knows the other person's. As one of my former pastor's used to say, "If we are going to err, it is best to err on the side of grace."

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).

Unequal Justice Is Not Justice

John 8:3-6 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.

The scribes and Pharisees continually tried to find ways to trap Jesus. In today's verses we see their lopsided attempt to trap Jesus using the Law. Interestingly, there is no mention of the man who was also guilty of adultery. The requirement, in truly applying the Law, was that both were to be brought forth and stoned. Sadly, this is still the approach taken today within the church. Today, there are local churches that wrongfully go after, discipline, and outcast certain individuals or families, but give a pass to others who openly sin and deserve to be corrected. Loving each other includes holding each other accountable and correcting each other, in love; not just by pointing out each others shortcomings, but by coming alongside each other and helping to restore one another back into fellowship with the Lord. Far too often, mercy and grace are given or denied, not on the basis of God's Word, but on the basis of favoritism, and based on who belongs to the "club". What the scribes and the Pharisees did not calculate was that they were trying to use God's Word to trap God Himself. How foolish are we Christians today to misuse God's Word and think that somehow the Lord is blind to our favoritism and hypocrisy. One day, we will all give account for how we use God's Holy Word to instill our own form of unequal justice, which is not justice at all.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).

They Silenced One of Their Own

John 7:50-52 Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”

In earlier verses we read of a division among the people because of personal opinions about who Jesus was. The chief priests and Pharisees desired to get their hands on Jesus, but would not dare. Instead, they tasked the officers with taking Him captive and doing their dirty work. However, the officers, being impressed with the way Jesus spoke (although it did not change their hearts) refused to take hold of Him. The Pharisees, being upset, insulted the intelligence of the people and basically put down the officers, accusing them of being deceived. Now we have Nicodemus, who was also a Pharisee, and who questioned them in respect to how they should give Jesus a fair hearing, in accordance with the Law. Their response to him revealed what was truly in their hearts. They were not one bit interested in the truth, but in meeting their own agenda, even if it meant rejecting and silencing one of their own. Sadly, this is still seen today within the church. There are some who will overlook the truth in order to avoid "disturbing the apple cart". They will allow sinful behavior, based on who is the offender, and instead quickly silence the one(s) who come forth in light of the truth. They will allow division, rather than confront what the Word of God clearly states should be confronted; in love of course. The Pharisees had their own agenda, their own club, and anyone who dared disturb their hypocrisy with truth was immediately silenced or outcast. We must be wise and careful to examine a matter based on God's truth, and not our own personal agendas. Let us not silence the voice of truth when it speaks out for the glory of God and His church.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).