2:266 – Drop Your Stone and Live

#faithbites #faithjourney #redletterchallenge Stone

Greetings from the great white north. This is the first international faithbite, so I hope you enjoy. And, it wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t traveling.

I was sitting in the Toronto airport waiting to get to Ottawa. Most of the flights for the day were oversold. I knew people had to get to Ottawa on time and I could be late so I gave up my seat. (Sure I got a $600 CAD voucher so that doesn’t hurt). But I knew it didn’t matter to me, but others it did. Well, there was one guy, getting pretty upset about being on standby. His demeanor changed, his voice was agitated, and he was pretty aggressive to the gate agent. After about 20 minutes or so, the gate agent called his name and he had a seat with his friend on the flight. In that second, he dropped his anger, his frustration, and his hurt, and was back to his old self.

Sure, we all have things that make us mad. Things that we should forgive ourselves for and things we want forgiveness from others and God for. But here’s the kicker, we are forgiven completely and can drop our stone at any time. Have you dropped yours?

Scripture

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.” – John 8:9-11

Reflection

In this story, a woman was accused of adultery. She was mocked and going to be sentenced. (Why the man wasn’t there too, we won’t get into that). She was carrying a huge stone, her sin of adultery, and what the law would do to her. Jesus told her, she is forgiven and sin no more. He told her to drop her stone and move on.

I wasn’t there but I can imagine how hard that must have been. Not only that you weren’t going to be punished by the law, but also your soul was clean. Then to accept that true forgiveness.

Here’s the thing, we are told lies by Satan. We hear that even though Jesus forgives us, the world doesn’t. That His forgiveness isn’t enough. The truth is, it is enough. Like the man at the airport, he made himself upset, he hurt the gate agent, and then his problem vanished. I’m not saying what he did was right, but the way your life changes when your circumstances change is something we can all live by.

It’s time to drop the stone or stones you have been carrying. You are forgiven.

Challenge

This may be the hardest challenge I have ever issued. Forgive Yourself. You have confessed to the Lord. He has made you white as snow. Now, drop your stone and move on. Live the life he wants you to and sin no more. And when you do sin again, he will forgive you.

Prayer

Lord, thank you putting examples of how to live in front of us every day. In your word and in our daily life, we see how to live and how not to live. You have forgiven us. Help our hearts to forgive ourselves. This is a hard challenge as Satan tells us we are not worthy of your forgiveness. And that is true, we are not, but you love us and through Jesus forgive us anyway. Remind us of that. Help our hearts to heal through His sacrifice. In your name, Amen.