Grace abounds still more 

By: Carole Lynne Haines 

10 And straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not sin any longer.” 

12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:10-12) 

It is amazing how just a single candle can dispel the darkness in a room. Jesus is that single candle in this world. He calls us to point others to Him so He can be that single candle of hope for them as well.  In the above Scripture, a woman is brought before Jesus accused of being caught in the very act of adultery. When questioned, Jesus does not answer her accusers, but instead, He stoops down and begins to write upon the ground. We can’t help but wonder what He was writing. Was it the sins of all these men, now accusing this woman whose sin had been so blatantly exposed? Was it the name of the man who had been caught in adultery with her, as it takes two to commit that sin? No one really knows except those who were standing there seeing Him write. 

But Jesus stood up to answer their accusations with an invitation to whomever was there without any sin, to cast he first stone at her. When they heard this, the older ones began dropping the stones they had brought with them, beginning with the older ones. As we get older, self-righteousness loses its grip on us. For we have lived with ourselves long enough to learn just how sinful we are. This precious woman’s life was spared, the darkness of her accusers dispelled, and she was left alone standing with Jesus in the courtyard. That single candle of hope was still writing on the ground and stood up to ask, “Where are they? Did no one condemn you?” Praise God that no one can accuse us before God with Jesus as our mediator.  31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.  (Romans 8:31-34) 

God’s grace toward us never runs out, through Jesus we can aways confess and be restored to God and covered in His grace. Are you running from a sin? Stop, turn around, look up too God in Jesus and You will find His pursuit of You is an invitation to be freed from those things holding you down, keeping you trapped. No matter what it is, His grace abounds still more.