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The Power Of Gentleness

Have you ever gotten into trouble before? We all make mistakes. When you make a mistake, how do people in your life react? Do they freak out, yell, and scream at you? Or are they calm and try to talk things out to help you?

A lot of times when we see people struggling, it’s because of something called sin. Sin is anything that separates us or moves us away from God. Sometimes life is hard because of other people’s sins, but sometimes we make our life hard because of our own sin.

Today’s Bible story talks about a woman who did something wrong, something that she shouldn’t have done. The religious leaders didn’t try to help this woman. Instead, they put her in front of a crowd and threatened to throw rocks at her. Rather than help her make better choices, they shamed and condemned her because of her bad choice. This woman needed help and for her life to change.

Jesus did something amazing that day. He bent down, wrote something in the sand, and said some powerful words: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” When all her accusers went away, Jesus turned to the woman and told her that she was free to go and sin no more.

Jesus used a gentle approach to help this woman. He wanted her to change her life, and He knew that shame and throwing stones at her wouldn’t bring about that change. He was gentle in His approach to correcting her.

There’ll be times in our life when we meet people whom God wants us to help. We need God to help lead and guide our words and our actions. We want to help people change their life but throwing stones at them doesn’t help. There is power in helping someone and saying the truth in love. And the truth is, we all sin and make mistakes. But God showed us love and grace by sending His one and only Son, Jesus, to die for us so that we could be forgiven of our sins.

That’s what Jesus did that day. He told the woman the truth with love and gentleness. He showed us the power of how doing that can transform lives.

God, help me to be gentle toward others in my words and actions. Help me speak the truth in love and show others You. Amen.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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