Drop Your Stones and Pray

The story of the woman caught in adultery is well known, but we don’t know who she was, as her name isn’t mentioned in Scripture. Yet, in a way, we all know her. She’s the person whose life doesn`t measure up to our own. She needs to get herself sorted out! In our story we are Jesus, prepared to tell her (in love of course) to stop that awful life of sin and change her ways! We have the moral high ground and the right to put her straight.

Our words to someone like her might be said directly, but more likely shared (for prayer of course) with others. However they don`t help that person; they cut them. Cut into his or her character, wounding them and make them of less value in our own eyes. In our story, if the truth be known, we’re just like the crowd around her; snarling, angry with her behaviour, wanting her to be punished. The stones (words) are in our hands ready and willing to be hurled at her.

Yet it`s not our right to sort her life out. That`s way beyond our responsibility. We don’t know her, but Jesus does. We don’t know what made her as she is, but Jesus does. We don’t know how to help her, but Jesus does. So we need to drop the stones we have ready to hurl at her, and walk away from the place of judgement we are standing in. We need to pray for her (or whoever ‘she’ represents). For if Jesus chose not to condemn her, though he had every right to, then exactly what right do we? It’s time to let the stones drop from our hands and for us to kneel and pray.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I’m truly sorry for the times You`ve found me standing in judgement of others; the sharp stones of verbal condemnation ready in my hands to hurl at someone who doesn`t measure up to my standards of what is and isn`t right. I pause for a moment and allow You to bring specific people to mind. I ask Your forgiveness and drop those stones. Instead, I choose to lift my hands in prayer to You for them, asking that You will bless them and change both them and me to become more like You. Amen.