The Empowerment He Gives: Gospel Today Devotional - 10th October, 2022

 In the gospel according to John, Chapter 8, the scripture gives an account of an event. It was recorded that a woman was caught in the act of adultery, meaning that she was caught sleeping with one who was not her husband, and as a result of the custom at the time, and the law as well, it was expected that she be stoned to death.

But before they could do this, they first had to bring the woman to Jesus to ask of him what to do, not necessarily because they wanted to know what he thought about the woman, and the situation she was found in. They however did that because they wanted to try him so they could find something against him.

When they came to Jesus, they told him that they had caught the woman in the very act of adultery, and according to the law, she was to be stoned. Jesus in replying them, said that the one who had no sin could commence the judgment of stoning her, and one after the other, they all left the woman till she was the only one. This is because they were guilty as well, and yet were ready to punish another. The verse below which will be our focus for today's devotional was as a result of this occurrence. Let's look at the verse of scripture below,

"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8:11).

After they had all left the woman, Jesus asked if no man had condemned her, and she said no. This gave room for the verse of scripture above. Do you now understand why Jesus didn't say they should stone her? It is because Jesus didn't see her the way they saw her. While they saw her as one who had done something wrong, and was to be condemned, the Lord Jesus saw her as one who could be saved, and given the life he brought to men.

It was not his assignment to condemn but to save, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17). It's indeed clear now why Jesus didn't condemn the woman. He came to save, and not to condemn.

Let's examine the text closely, she said, no man, Lord (that is, no man was able to condemn me Lord, they weren't able to stone me to death, they didn't do it, Lord). And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee ( same here my daughter, I do not condemn you as well, neither do I find any reason to stone you, and if I do not condemn you, no one can): go, and sin no more(but now I am giving you that which will deliver you from condemnation perpetually, the life that lives without sin, take it, and sin no more).

I am sure that conversation left the woman with joy unspeakable because the Lord Jesus didn't just stop the people from condemning her alone, he gave her the empowerment over the life she once lived, so that they will find no reason again to condemn her. Dear believer, that's the same empowerment you have been given, the empowerment that makes you live above sin, the empowerment that doesn't make sin have dominion over you. You have to live in the empowerment he has given, the empowerment to go, and sin no more. May we live in this empowerment evermore. Amen.

Thought for the day: Jesus didn't just save you from condemnation, he also at the same time empowered you to live above every form of condemnable practices.

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08161655758 or Email: [email protected].