Will You Cast The First Stone?

John 8:3-11 (NIV) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and 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?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." How often in life are we quick to blame others and cast judgment on them? I remember as a child hearing my mother and father say that two wrongs don't make a right. As jokesters and trying to lighten the situation, we added our share of humor, trying to make the situation into a math joke or something. Many years later as a father and husband, I feel that I have been given the ultimate responsibility to lead our family in a way of life that is pleasing and uplifting to Him. I am often reminded that nobody is perfect, but we can all have forgiveness that is only available thru our Father. I have often wondered what Jesus had written in the sand. Was He writing the names of her accusers? Was He writing the sins that they had committed themselves? Perhaps we will never know, but I know that Jesus did a perfect job in clearing the crowd that day as they must have departed in shame and embarrassment when they reflected on their own sin! Dear Friend, is there someone today that has upset you or has accused you of something that you didn't do? Take a few moments right now to ask God to soften your heart and fill you with His love and forgiveness. Don't cast the first stone. I truly believe that when all has been said and done, you'll be glad you followed the teachings of Jesus. Praying for Love and Forgiveness, Dave Henry