Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
John 8:10-11
Like others, I have been hurt and wronged by individuals with selfish intent. This morning, I considered the need to release them from holding me prisoner to anger or sadness.
I expected to hear a particular word on forgiveness; however, this is what I received.
Go, and sin no more.
A reminder of my imperfection and need to walk the line. Is God suggesting the one who needs to be released is me? It seems unfair. I didn’t hurt myself. I came with intentional hope to remove strongholds of bitterness, yet, God gave me the story of a lady who committed adultery as a lesson in release.
John 8 says after Jesus told the crowd those without sin could throw the first stone, the crowd disbursed, ‘beginning with the oldest ones.’
The oldest ones would also be the wiser ones. Life and experience make this true. I imagine the younger folks, stones in hand, looking around wondering why they are walking away and giving in.
“But the law says….”
At that moment, the people released their sin of judgment. Judging others is a common theme throughout time. We point out other’s faults and sins while secretly harboring our own.
God loves you. He isn’t particularly concerned about our hurt feelings as he is our sinful heart. He knows when we look in the mirror and examine our sin and setbacks, we have no space for the offenses of others.
It is not only about who you need to forgive, what hurt you need to let go of, or what anyone did to you. It is more about what you are doing to yourself. It was always about personal release into surrender to live a more righteous life, according to God’s will.
What do you need to release today?
Authentic Truths 