God Today Devotions
March 14, 2002

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her".
 John 8:7

Oh how we love to think we are so good and that our sin or as we prefer to call it shortcomings are more acceptable than others. Fact is sin is sin and we all have sinned and we all continually fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) As accusers gathered to judge this woman, who was very aware of her guilt Jesus steps in and with tenderness and grace, mercy and love speaks to her. His compassion most likely astonished her and certainly captivated her attention as well as her heart. She obviously was a sinner; but Jesus knew her and loved her still.  His words convicted her without condemning her.  He presented her with an opportunity for a new beginning and new life which she readily accepted.  May we never be so arrogant as to believe that we are without sin. Day by day we are being created in the image of Jesus Christ. It is only grace that has covered our sin. It is only through the precious blood of Jesus Christ that we are able to stand before God blameless and faultless. Through Jesus God exchanged our sin with His grace. Nothing we have done or said has redeemed us from our sin, we are all lawbreakers and we all need grace. We need to ask ourselves do we respond to people as the accusers of this woman did, or as Jesus with compassion, mercy and love. 

Prayer 

Forgive me for being so quick to condemn others and yet turn a blind eye to my own sin. It is only by Your grace and mercy that I have been rescued and redeemed. Thank you for GRACE WONDERFUL GRACE!  Help me to imitate you Jesus, to show compassion, mercy and love. Amen.