Put Down that Stone

Let your conversation be always full of grace

Colossians 4:6

I blatantly lied. I denied denting the car, knowing full well I had done that very thing. That lie plagued me. I tried to forget it, but I couldn’t. I confessed my sin to God, but He wanted more. I was to go to the person who confronted me and confess my sin to her.

As a teenager, that was difficult. How hard it was to tell her I lied. Yet, after I confessed, the woman immediately spoke loving, gracious words to me. I had expected condemnation. I received grace.  

A woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus. Her accusers spoke words of judgment and reminded Jesus the Law of Moses commanded an adulteress to be stoned. Surely this woman expected condemnation from Jesus. But what did she receive?

Jesus bent down and began writing on the ground. Then he stood and said to her accusers, If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her (John 8:7). One by one the woman’s accusers left.

The woman stood alone before Jesus—the sinless One who could have thrown stones at her. Yet, He said, Then neither do I condemn you... Go now and leave your life of sin (John 8:11). Instead of throwing stones, Jesus spoke words of grace and urged the woman toward righteousness.

The gracious words spoken by the woman in my story still impact me. What person who has wronged me needs to hear my loving words of grace?

Jesus’ response to the adulteress challenges me. Is my conversation most often filled with gracious words or condemning words? Instead of ‘throwing stones,’ how can I use my words today to guide a person toward righteousness?

What about you?

Lord Jesus, though it can often be easy to speak words of condemnation, help us follow your example. Help us be slow to speak in difficult circumstances. Give us wise, gracious words that lead others toward righteousness.

Jan Burkhart