Are you showing mercy in your lives?

“They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’ Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.” (John 8:7–9 NLT)

This adulterous woman they were all eager to cast stones at had committed a treacherous act, one that was punishable by death. She had done something that was highly frowned upon and for that reason she was judged by her entire community.

Though she knew the consequences for her action, she didn’t think she would get caught. Who would?

Like us. We commit sin, thinking we won’t get caught, in secret. Hidden from the rest of the world.

“Who would punish me for my sins,” we say.
But I tell you, our sins are always before our Lord, displayed in broad daylight.

Jesus looked at her sins and He said, “You are forgiven, I will not cast a stone at you.”

If the one who is worthy chooses not to cast a stone at people for their sins, why do we rush to be the first?

We choose to look at the sawdust in other people’s eyes and give a blind eye to the plank in our own eyes.

Let me challenge you.

Show mercy.

When we see a friend that’s stumbled and has fallen short, let us be quick to give a helping hand and show mercy.

Let’s not run to expose or to gossip about the deeds done by others.
Rather, let us ask ourselves, “What would Jesus have done?”
Let us imitate Christ’s mercy to those that are struggling with sin.

Let our actions bring people closer to Christ instead of our judgment condemning them further from Him. Let us not be quick to judge but to win people over by love and mercy.

Our actions have an effect on people. Let us love and not cast stones. For we too aren’t perfect and were once worthy of casted stones.

And as the Bible says: Those who show mercy will be shown mercy.