John, chapter 8 tells us of an adulterous woman who was brought before Jesus. It is an account that almost every believer has heard a sermon about at some time or another. Terrified, scripture tells us that she was drug out in humiliation and shame. She could only listen while her accusers demanded that she be stoned to death. But Jesus did not look upon the woman’s shame and pain.
Think of the utter hopelessness she had to feel. She was caught in the act of adultery. She could not defend herself. She could only plead for mercy. However the law did not allow for mercy and she knew this.
I will not call this a story because it diminishes the word of Christ.
Scripture reflects that as the crowd clamored for her destruction, the only response Christ gave was “He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone”. Every reference I have heard to this scripture has reflected upon the revealing of the sin of the accusers. But there is more to be learned.
Jesus could have very easily made a big sermon standing over the woman about the cost of sin. He could have preached about “all have sinned….” He could have made any number of comparisons using her as an example and still have spared her life. She would have been just as grateful. The crowd would have been just as amazed.
But Jesus chose not to look upon the worst part of her. He chose not to acknowledge the worst shame in her life. He chose not to accuse and He chose not to judge. The only time Jesus addressed her was after the crowd had dispersed when he said “Woman, where are thine accusers. Has no man condemned thee? Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more”. No lectures.
Something to note however is that although Jesus did not judge this woman, neither did he judge the accusers. He made them judge themselves. He didn’t tell them they were a bunch of hypocrites. He didn’t find fault with them for following what was their laws. They questioned him about why he would not uphold the law. In paraphrase, he simply told them “I know who I am and where I come from .Basically you are going to do what you want if I am here or not”. But the awesome thing he said was “Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man”
I CHOOSE
I choose to not find fault. Fault is there in front of us everywhere we look. It is blatant and irritating in your coworkers, your family, and your church. It is like the gravel in your shoes that gets harder to ignore with each progressive step you take.
However finding fault serves absolutely no useful purpose. Fault finding does however create negative emotions and a negative attitude. In response you will react either defensively or aggressively when interacting with those you are judging. These negative emotions then take the focus of attention away from other aspects of the individual.
Fault finding creates walls between people. In judging others, you increasingly isolate yourself and in time find that being “right or righteous” becomes hollow and lonely.
Who cares? People are not going to change who they are because of your disapproval. The church will not change how it worships because you think they should. Your boss is not going to change how he runs his business because you know better. Scripture says to not worry about the speck in our brother’s eye without first removing the beam from our own.
I CHOOSE to not look for fault. I CHOOSE to try to look for the good and the positive in everything and everyone in my life. When my nature kicks up and my flesh wants to react by finding fault, I will consciously choose to not entertain the thoughts.
Some days may prove more difficult than others. But each day I have the opportunity to start with a new pledge. I CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THE FULLNESS OF LIFE, THE FULLNESS OF JOY, THE FULLNESS OF LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP.
I feel so humble to know that my Jesus chooses to not look at the worst part of me. If the Son of God said “I JUDGE NO MAN” then who in the world am I to try to judge or feel ill will toward anyone else.
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