Now what do you say?

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8

(emphasis added)

It doesn't matter what the law says, what other Christians say, what others think or act around you; all that matters is what Jesus says. "Now what do you say?" As John 3:17 says, Christ wasn't sent into the World to condemn the world. But instead, to bring conviction. I hope the life of Christ brings conviction into your hearts today. Why? Because condemnation pushes us further from God, while conviction pulles us closer. Are you living a life of conviction?

Jesus, give me the strength to see others as you do. Not to condemn them, but to love them. To confront them in their sin and bring conviction. Help me to see people through your eyes. I pray that I would live a life holy and pleasing to you, one that would draw those around me closer to you. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.