RELEASED
BY GRACE Saturday January 2,
2016
Text:
John 8:1 – 11 Memory verse: v11
When Jesus invited someone without sin
to throw the first stone on this woman, the leaders slipped away one by one,
from oldest to youngest. “Evidently the older men were more aware of their sins
than the younger. Age and experience often temper youthful self-righteousness.
We all have a sinful nature and are desperately in need of forgiveness and
transformation” so says Life Application Commentary. None of us would have been
able to throw the first stone because we cannot claim that we have no sin. We
would have also walked away. Actually no one could claim he or she is sinless
so as to stone this woman. Jesus had exposed their hypocrisy and embarrassed
them. They all went back in shame to think of some other ways to trap Jesus.
No one accused the woman, and Jesus
kindly said that He would not condemn her either. Thus she was released by
grace. She was not simply free to go her way. Jesus didn’t just free her from
the Pharisees, He wanted to free her from her sin, so He added, “Go and sin no
more.” Jesus didn’t condemn her, but neither did He ignore or condone her
behaviour. Jesus told the woman to leave her life of sin. As we have been
graciously brought into this New Year, we should not abuse the grace of God. He
brought us into the New Year because He expects a change in us. Don’t think you
deserve to be alive; it is by God’s grace. Live in gratitude like this woman
having received God’s grace.
Food
for Thought: How
grateful are you to God for the grace to see this year?
Prayer: Lord, I am alive by your grace. Help me to live my life in gratitude for this singular honour.
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