Confronting Sinful Behavior
[The earliest and most reliable manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53-8:11.]
Scripture – John 8:7-11: When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him 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.”
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture) Again, this is one of the most familiar images in the Bible. Many people – in and out of the faith – know the basic story about not throwing stones. Perhaps it’s so popular precisely because it lifts up an attitude our culture values highly – no one has the right to judge another person’s actions as long as they don’t seem to hurt anyone else. At the same time, the overwhelming Biblical testimony is that we have that responsibility. So, how do we confront sinful behavior in a world that resists believing in the existence of sin? (I apologize for the rambling nature of my comments these past two days. The fact is I don’t believe these verses are part of the original gospel of John. So it’s hard to do much with them.)
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read) I will be aware of my own behavior and attitudes today. What do I excuse or overlook in myself that I want to point out to others? And does that mean I should not point them out?
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer) Lord, thank you again for your grace in my life. Please give me a discerning and loving spirit today.
An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, join us at Tim Hortons (Dix and Northline in Southgate) today, 9:45 – 10:30am.
Scripture – John 8:7-11: When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him 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.”
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture) Again, this is one of the most familiar images in the Bible. Many people – in and out of the faith – know the basic story about not throwing stones. Perhaps it’s so popular precisely because it lifts up an attitude our culture values highly – no one has the right to judge another person’s actions as long as they don’t seem to hurt anyone else. At the same time, the overwhelming Biblical testimony is that we have that responsibility. So, how do we confront sinful behavior in a world that resists believing in the existence of sin? (I apologize for the rambling nature of my comments these past two days. The fact is I don’t believe these verses are part of the original gospel of John. So it’s hard to do much with them.)
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read) I will be aware of my own behavior and attitudes today. What do I excuse or overlook in myself that I want to point out to others? And does that mean I should not point them out?
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer) Lord, thank you again for your grace in my life. Please give me a discerning and loving spirit today.
An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, join us at Tim Hortons (Dix and Northline in Southgate) today, 9:45 – 10:30am.
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