SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1036

“The First Stone”

And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)

Have you ever watched a movie and could not wait for the bad guy to get his comeuppance in the end? Was it justice we wanted or vengeance?  Would we have rejoiced equally had there been an alternate ending to the movie and the committer of heinous crimes received salvation through Jesus Christ?

I confess that I am too quick to be judge, jury, and executioner. I know that I am one that Jesus is speaking to when He says, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone…”

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. (Romans 2:1)

At the root of our judgmental tendencies is a false sense of self-righteousness. It speaks to our minds that our sin is not as bad as their sin. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment… (Isaiah 64:6)

…Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? (1 Corinthians 5:12) We have even corrupted our judging of those inside the Body of Christ. We have taken the charge to discern what is right and to correct, coach, and minister to others in love and turned it into either a judgmental bludgeon or we have swung the pendulum fully and tolerated the sin by turning a blind eye for fear of offending someone.

With respect to those outside the Body of Christ we should follow the example set by Jesus and step out in ministry first. Ministry builds relationship which builds trust and that opens the door to influence by the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God to save the lost and transform lives.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him…  (Matthew 3:16-20)

May you allow the Holy Spirit’s refining fire to search and cleanse your hearts clothing you in the righteousness of Jesus. and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— (Philippians 3:9)

May we put down our stones and follow Jesus’ example to minister to the lost in the love and power of His Name instead of judging them.