Verna Bowman

Encouraging Women One Story at a Time

Psalm 27:13
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Stone Free

October 27, 2013 By Verna Bowman 8 Comments

First century people weren’t that different than any of us.  They messed up. Except first century people were stoned if they messed up.  What if that were true for us today?

Think of the times we’re called to just be a nice guy and let it go. . . .  but, what do we do when we can’t?   What happens when we don’t – because it’s too deep to dig out?

If we’re breathing, we’re involved with people.  I know of more than a few broken ones struggling to get passed the hard-to-forgive places in life.

I understand.

3061672860_b52cf853e4The gospel of John (8:1-11) tells a beautiful story. We’ve all heard about the woman caught in adultery . . . but she wasn’t alone.  However, she was the only one dragged in to the temple floor by the hypocrites.  She had to forgive a little more than someone just messing up.  The humiliation and pain involved her heart – her life.

Jesus was in the outer courts teaching, when a bunch of Pharisees with a pocketful of stones broke in to throw half of the scandal before His feet.  They didn’t care about her life, they cared about the trap they were setting. The Law of Moses says she should be stoned, but if Jesus says she can go free, He’s a lawbreaking Messiah.

Publicly exposed for her sin by the pious, she looks up into God’s eyes.  The One who stands stone-free bends down to meet her lowness.

Can we?

If He didn’t need a stone, neither do we.

He bends down a second time and writes in the dirt.  Her dirt.  Our dirt.

We don’t know what was written, except maybe something like . . . I didn’t come as a judge, but as a Savior. 

We’ve all been hurt by someone and we’ve all hurt someone. We’re on both sides of the line drawn in the dust.  Like the accusers, we hold a handful of stones waiting to cast at the mess-ups.  Like her, we have sinned and need someone to stand up for us.

On a cross.

And, we have that – the only place where we find enough forgiveness to give away.

Can we? 

Be blessed,
Verna

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Tagged With: #verna bowman, cast the first stone, forgiveness, John 8, woman caught in adultery

Comments

  1. Laura says

    October 27, 2013 at 7:29 pm

    Very humbling, Verna. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus, that He is the one who judges us, and not man. Thank you for this reminder of how full of grace our God is.

    Reply
    • verna says

      October 27, 2013 at 7:35 pm

      Judges us by the fullness of His saving grace, yes . . . thank you, Laura. Love your visits!

      Reply
  2. cindy durham says

    October 27, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    keep writing your blogs i read and reflect-it is easy to judge not so easy to forgive for sure!

    Reply
    • vernabowman says

      October 28, 2013 at 6:46 am

      Thank you for stopping by, Cindy – yep, only by grace can we replace that judgement with forgiveness. A loving lesson we get to learn – everyday!

      Reply
  3. Glenda Mills says

    October 28, 2013 at 10:50 am

    I love this. Stone free…because He threw no stones, but acquitted the one caught in sin…just like us…just like our Savior. No more casting stones in our hearts, minds, or actions…now thats a wonderful way to start the week. Thanks for sharing, Verna.

    Reply
    • vernabowman says

      October 28, 2013 at 5:12 pm

      A beautiful reminder in how compassionate Jesus is to the broken . . .no stones. Thank you for your kind comments, Glenda.

      Reply
  4. Jessie seneca says

    October 28, 2013 at 3:27 pm

    Grace dropped the stone. Love this!

    Reply
    • vernabowman says

      October 28, 2013 at 5:11 pm

      Well, I love the way you worded this! Thank you, Jessie. (love your book, by the way!)

      Reply

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So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.  And the Lord who is Spirit makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.  2 Corinthians 3:18

 

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Verna Bowman
Crumbs Along the Broken Path
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