01/02/2026
For the Week
In John 8:10, we are told “Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
Brethren, please let's take it easy how we easily criticise, accuse, condemn and judge others. In our contemporary times, especially on social media, people's personal struggles, circumstances, and battles (which they are trusting God to overcome), easily become the issue of discussion for others. Eventhough these commentators have personal struggles of their own, they loudly condemn others to demoralise them without care. The platform allows them the freedom to crush another man's spirit anyhow without remorse. To them, although we all have struggles, you whose fate allows yours in a public domain, must not be spared the ridicule, insults, condemnation and embarrassment. The cliche then is “the sinner is the one who has been caught”. Meaning, one can do all manner of bad things in secrecy so long as he follows the 11th commandment, “thou shall not be caught” - THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY!
It must be fun to know that it is not us standing accused. It makes us feel good about ourselves, at least for that moment. It is easier to point fingers at others and call them out. That way, we create a good impression of ourselves as living by the BOOK, and adhering to all its instructions. This happened in the Bible days too. A woman was caught im adultery and was by the law expected to be stoned to death. She was sent to Jesus for His views and Jesus asked the one with no sin to cast the first stone. Since all are sinners, they all left and Jesus also decided not to condemn the woman but asked her to go her way.
We can see how Jesus, the only One without sin, chose not to condemn the guilty woman but rather restore her. That is salvation. That is redemption. That is mercy. That is the heart of One who wills above all that none should perish. That is what Paul means when he says, _"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently"_ (Galatians 6:1a). Brethren, if it is possible, let's leave judging and condemning to God. He is the only righteous Judge (Psalm 7:11), in whom there is no favouritism or partiality (Romans 2:11). Only mercy (Psalm 103:8). Let us also leave accusations to the devil. He is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10).
Ours is to remember how God's mercies keep sparing us in our own faults. So that we can, by that same mercy, intercede for all struggling to live right, and do all within our measure of grace to help them get back up in Christ again. Always remember, _"All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)"_ (Ephesians 2:3-5 NLT).
_"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall"_ (1 Corinthians 10:12). _"Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. 16 The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here"_ (Psalm 103:15-16). Let's live this short life loving and serving the Lord with all our hearts. And loving one another even as Christ has loved us. We must reproof, rebuke, correct, exhort. But, let us defer judgement to God, for Matthew 7:1-4 says “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
