Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: John 8:1-11

” …neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.‘ (v.11)

This account from Jesus’ ministry is a wondrous moment for each of us, for in one way or another we have all fallen short of God’s glory. This event shows us that even when we are caught out red-handed or red-faced in the act of flagrant sin, the Lord’s heart continues to desire our highest best, our healing, and our restoration.

When a man and woman were caught in adultery, and the religious leaders hauled the devastated and ashamed woman into the public square (in an act of sexist discrimination that allowed the guilty man to escape scot-free) their hearts were filled with selfish pride and deceit. All they wanted was to use this poor woman to trap Jesus. They cared nothing for her and her embarrassment or fear. To them, she was a filthy, disgusting, worthless sinner, and they were willing to throw her to the wolves.

But Jesus … To Jesus she was a precious soul to be saved!

In that moment, Jesus revealed a deep truth about the heart of God: He never discards us.

We may discard others. We may even discard ourselves. But even in the worst of our human sinfulness (of the sexual or any other kind) God’s desire is to forgive and not condemn. So Saviour Jesus sees the despairing and repentant heart of this woman, and His words to her are so profoundly powerful: “I do not condemn you. Now go and sin no more.”

Living by the value of sanctity means that we will do everything we possibly can to honour God with our body, soul and mind. We will strive, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to avoid ending up in the sinful mess this woman did. But … when we or others fall and fail like she did … sanctity also means that we turn our hearts Godward again, allow Him to pick us (or them) up, dust us (or them) off, and speak His beautiful, timeless words once more: “I do not condemn you. But go and sin no more!” No excuses. No pretending our sin doesn’t matter. Just precious forgiveness, gentle restoration, and a call to return to holiness of life!

Lord, grant me the holiness that comes by faith in Jesus, I pray. And please empower me, by Your Spirit, to “go and sin no more” today. Amen.