The New Way

One lesson is to not throw stones until we examine our own lives.  Some people become outraged that the woman was considered guilty – but there was no man brought in.   I think the primary lesson is that Jesus had compassion on sinners.  Many people live in fear of a God that zaps them if they do something wrong.  Here we see Jesus' gentle and loving way of dealing with sinners.  

Many years ago, I volunteered and was trained to help people who had a specific medical problem.  My supervisor was a beautiful woman who had lived a hard life.  I felt God was calling me to be her friend.  She would tell me stories of her life and I really felt nothing but love and concern for her.   One of our training sessions ended earlier than expected and she invited me to go with her and a couple of other ladies to a bar in the hotel where a jazz pianist was playing.  I very honestly told her that I would love to go, but I wouldn't know the rules.   She told me I didn't have to buy a drink; I could just sit and listen, and no one would care.   So, I went.  They all drank their alcohol and I sat and listened and cared for them.  Late that night, in our hotel room, this lady commented that she had never met a Christian who didn't condemn her.   I told her that Jesus didn't condemn her, He loved her.    I lost track of her after I quit volunteering, but I hope that she came to know that Jesus loved her.  

Remember that we can love people who sin without participating in or loving their sin.  We must never fall for Satan's trap that we can behave like them in order to make friends with them.   No.   God has called us to walk in a manner that is separate and holy but filled with love and compassion for all those around us.

In His service, dale