John8:7 …“Let any one of you who is with out sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (NIV)
Someone was telling me that he walked into the office of a friend and noticed sitting on his friend’s desk was a rock and on the rock was written the number one. He asked his friend about the rock. His friend told him it was the first stone. Then he told the story of the woman who was caught in the act of adultery who was brought before Jesus. The law required her to be stoned to death. Jesus said, “Let the person who is without sin, throw the first stone.” They all walked away and Jesus forgave her. The man said, “That stone on my desk reminds me not to throw stones of judgment at others – the first stone.” It might be a good idea if we all had a first stone lying around to remind us of our need to show mercy and forgiveness. It is easy to see another’s sin while ignoring our own. It is so easy and tempting to throw stones of condemnation and judgment at others. The truth is that sometimes we start throwing stones at others because we don’t want to deal with our own sin. Jesus knew that people needed love, mercy and forgiveness. He specialized in it. He was not a stone-thrower. When you are tempted to throw a verbal stone at someone, remember the words of Jesus, “Let he who is without sin, throw the first stone.” It will remind you that you don’t qualify to be a stone-thrower.
– Tim Thompson, Senior Pastor