My Epic Journey

In preparation for our student ministry teaching this Sunday night I was reading and studying John 8:1-11.  In this passage John is recalling a incident where Jesus was about ready to share some of his wisdom with those who have gathered around to hear him in the

Temple when he was approached by a gang of Pharisees escort a woman—not the man—caught in adultery.  A question is posed by the teachers of the Law as to whether such a woman should be stoned to death for her impropriety as was laid out by Moses in Leviticus 20:11.

 Jesus stoops down, doodles in the sand, throws the ball in the Pharisees’ court and tells them to go ahead and start throwing stones at her, but first to examine their own hearts and if any one is with out sin they should throw the first stone.   The Pharisees of course drop their stones and walk away one by one.

As I dwell on this I am shocked at how many times in my life I have had stones ready to throw at those who I have felt crossed the line with God.  They had done some grievous act and I was witness and felt as if I should be the one to bring it to the Lord’s attention and perhaps share with Him as well, what punishment should become of such an infidel.

And then He stoops down and doodles—not in the sand—but on my heart, all the things I have done to Him that have broken that relationship that He so desperately wants from me.

How often have I been so vain to think that I am as mighty as God Himself and have the right and the option to stand over someone else—stone in hand—ready to cast judgment?

Maybe you can ask the same of yourself.  Perhaps we need to drop the stone, listen to the words Jesus is writing on our heart and be concerned more about our own gap of connection with Him than to be worried about making sure our neighbor gets the punishment we think he deserves.

I am deeply disturbed, as are others, at a recent ad showing up in Italy.  The ad has a baby with a bracelet on that reads, HOMOSEXUAL.  The caption to the right states that “sexual orientation is not a choice.” 

Let’s remind ourselves about what God says about homosexuality, Romans 1:18-27.