Shallowater Methodist Church

Yesterday, Monday ~ May 19th, one of my devotional readings is worthy of sharing with you. This reading is from “Standing on the Promises ~ 365 Daily Assurances of God’s Love, Care, and Guidance” ~ written by Randy Kilgore, published by Our Daily Bread, copy write 2021. I hope and pray this devotional speaks to you!
God Promises ~ May 19
That Our Sins Can Be Forgiven
Within A Stone’s Throw
John 7:53-8:11
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” -John 8:7
As a group of religious leaders herded an adulteress woman toward Jesus, they couldn’t know they were carrying her within a stone’s throw of grace. Their hope was to discredit Him. If He told them to let the woman go, they could claim He was breaking Mosaic Law. But if He condemned her to death, the crowds following Him would have dismissed His words of mercy and grace.
But Jesus turned the tables on the accusers. Scripture says that rather than answering them directly, He started writing on the ground. When the leaders continued to question Him, He invited any of them who had never sinned to throw the first stone, and then He started writing on the ground again. The next time He looked up, all the accusers were gone.
Now the only person who could have thrown a stone – the only sinless One – looked at the woman and gave her mercy. “’Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go and leave your life of sin’” (John 8:11).
Whether today finds you needing forgiveness for judging others or desiring assurance that no sin is beyond His grace, be encouraged by this: No one is throwing stones today; go and be changed by God’s mercy.
As I wrestle with my own life, knowing I am far from perfect and sinless, the ONLY person I know who ever is or was perfect is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Like the apostle Paul, I strive to imitate Christ in and through my daily life. Unfortunately, there are times when I fail in that striving! Those are the times I need His and your GRACE! I ask daily, for HIS GRACE, and FORGIVENESS, may we ALL be like Paul, found striving to imitate Jesus to everyone we encounter, and may we find grace from everyone when we fail!
In HIS Grace and Service,
Pastor Tom

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