Hey Clawson Family!

Song:

Scripture

John 8:1-10

A Woman Caught in Adultery

 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” 

Devotional:

Here is the truth: if you are a follower of Jesus, you don’t have the right to be offended. 

In a book called The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace by Jack Kornfield shows us that it is possible for us to get rid of our bitterness and forgive.

There’s a true story about a 14-year-old boy who was convicted for shooting and killing an innocent teenager in a gang-related incident. The teenager’s mother attended the trial, and she sat quietly until the verdict of guilty was announced, and he was sentenced to a juvenile facility for a number of years. She looked at him and said, “I’m going to kill you.” A few months later, she went to visit the young man in prison, but instead of receiving the hate he thought he had coming, she gave him money for cigarettes and brought him food and small gifts. She kept on visiting him.

After three years, he was eligible for parole, but he had nowhere to live. She invited him to her home and helped him get a job, and after a few months spoke these words to him:

I didn’t want you to live because you killed my son.  My boy is gone,  but the killer is gone as well. I told you I was going to kill you, and I did. If you stay with me, I’ve got room and I’d like to adopt you as my son if you let me.

And this remarkable woman became the mother of her son’s killer. She became the mother he never had. 

She killed her son’s killer with Love and gave him a shot at a real life. We need to be like this mother. 

Master the art of forgiveness by purposely pursuing forgiveness and forgiving people when they offend you. Remember, God forgave your sins, and you didn’t earn it. Therefore, forgive others and free yourself!

Journal:

How easy or difficult is it for you to forgive? In your journal, write down why you think that is the case.

Training:

Father, we know You’ve rescued us from darkness. Help us extend forgiveness to those around us because You’ve forgiven the worst in us. Unleash Your power and goodness as we forgive, even when it seems impossible. 

In Jesus’ name,

amen.

Find peace this week by extending forgiveness to a person or situation.