Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
THURSDAY, December 30 (Frances Joseph Gaudet)
John 7:53—8:11. Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.
“What is original sin?” the twelve-year-old asked her grandfather. And he replied, “It is something we all have in common. It is one of the things that holds us together.”
Grandfather’s definition of original sin was a way of saying what Jesus had in mind when he said, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” There is no doubt about the sinfulness of what the woman had done. Jesus understood the destructive consequences of adultery just as much as the scribes and Pharisees. The difference was that when Jesus zeroed in on sin, it was not just the obvious sins that caught his attention. Less obvious, but just as sinful, was the self-righteous finger-pointing of those who sought to condemn the woman. Hard-heartedness is also a sin, because in its rush to condemn it does not hear the message of mercy and forgiveness from the Savior.
Jesus’ parting words to the woman—“Neither do I condemn you”—are a reminder of just how forgiving is the God whom we meet in the Bible. (1996)
PRAY for the Diocese of Lafia (Province of Abuja, Nigeria)
Ps 20, 21:1-7(8-14) * 23, 27; Isaiah 25:1-9; Revelation 1:9-20
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
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