Wednesday - go now and leave your life of sin

Prayer:   Help us this day,  O LORD,  to discern Your will for our lives.   Send Your Holy Spirit down upon us so that we may read and learn of the scriptures in a new and enthusiastic light.   Open our minds to Your call this day so that we may go forth sharing Your Word.  This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read  St John 8: 1 – 11

Jesus sat down in the temple and began to teach the people.  The Teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.  The Teachers of the law and the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher,  this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.  Now what do you say?”  (John 8: 4-5  NIV  Zondervan, 1983).    They were using this question as a trap.   Both they and Jesus knew that both people caught in adultery would be stoned (Leviticus 20:10  and Deuteronomy 22:22).  The Teachers of the law and the Pharisees had only brought the woman. 

What did Jesus do?  Did he immediately answer them back?  No,  he took his time and did not answer them.  They continued to question Jesus and finally he said to them, “If any one of you is without sin,  let him be the first to throw a stone at her”  (John 8: 8-9  NIV Zondervan, 1983) then Jesus stooped down and began writing on the ground.

One at a time, the Teachers of the Law and Pharisees left.  They knew they were no without sin so could not throw a stone at the woman.   Finally the only person left standing in front of Jesus was the woman.  Jesus looked up and asked where were the ones who condemned her.   She replied that there was no one left.  Jesus then said, “Then neither do I condemn you.  Go now and leave your life of sin.”  (John 8: 11  NIV Zondervan, 1983).

Go now and leave your life of sin.   When we get into sticky situations,  we need to be like Jesus and take our time to make a decision.   Jesus did not answer the Teachers of the law and the Pharisees right away,  he took his time.    Usually when we are in a situation that involves answers to questions,  we provide an answer immediately.  Frequently making a quick answer instead of slowing down the process and putting the question in prayer to God before we provide an answer,  we get into a worst situation.    Words and communication are so important that we need to heed our words before we speak.  We need to ask ourselves if what we are about to say is helpful in bringing about the Kingdom of God and showing the love of God. 

Scholars have stated that this portion of scripture was included later in the Gospel.   Some Scholars state that John did not write this portion of scripture.   I am glad that this portion of scripture is included as it gives us hope.   Our hope rests and abides in God.  Our God is  a loving God who continually forgives us of all our sins. 

This week,  look over the conversations you have with people.  Look over your life this week and the decisions you have made.   How will you go now and leave your life of sin?

Prayer:  Great God  we thank You that You forgive us each time we sin and err and fall. You lift us up and make us brand new in Christ.   Today as we life out our lives in Christ,  may we lift up to You each decision that we make.  Be with those who need Your love this day.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.