Cross of Christ Lutheran Church

Reflections and Prayers
 
John 8:7 "But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'"
 
Devotional: Don't Throw Stones!
 
The phrase "throwing stones" (or "casting stones") comes from the biblical event in which the Pharisees dragged an adulterous woman (but not the man) before Jesus to be stoned. Jesus told the accusers that whoever was without sin could be the first to throw a stone at her.

Only Jesus has the right to throw a stone, and He chooses not to. Instead, He chooses to use grace and forgiveness. Remember that you can't recover that stone after it's thrown at someone. Jesus asks that each of us throw away our stones and follow His example of being kind, tolerant and respectful to one another. God reminds us that our task is not to judge others but, instead, to forgive them even when they act badly toward us.

I recently read something worth repeating: Positions are temporary. Ranks and titles are limited. But the way you treat people will always be remembered.

Jesus teaches us to meet anger with sympathy, contempt with compassion, and cruelty with kindness. We are to greet grimaces with smiles; to forgive and forget about finding fault.

Don't throw stones because love is the weapon of the future!
 
Let us Pray:  . Heavenly Father, we pray that you teach us how to not rush to judgment of others for their weaknesses, their opinions which differ from ours, their unfortunate circumstances over which they have no control, their bad choices in life or their negative actions toward us. Help us forgive them and treat them with the kindness and respect we all deserve. Teach us how to show others by example how to use love rather than stones as our weapon of choice to create a more positive, equitable and harmonious world for everyone.  In Thy Holy Name we pray, Amen.
 
(Submitted by Lynn Meyer/CoC Prayer Group)