Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”
John 8:10-11
When the woman caught in adultery was thrown at Jesus’ feet, some wanted to know why He didn’t condemn her. Others wanted to know what He was writing in the sand that caused the religious leaders of the day to walk away when He said that those without sin should cast the first stone. But more important is what Jesus’ response was to her sin. He let her off the hook and told her not to do it again.
Forgive means to forget. I remember saying something I shouldn’t have to a boss one day, only later to come and ask for forgiveness. He accepted my apology, but I was still concerned my inappropriate comment might come back to me. When I apologized a second time, he forgave me a second time and said, “We’re adults; I forgive you, let’s move on.” His words did more than clear my debt; they set me free. We never forget when someone lets us off the hook when we don’t deserve it. To let someone off the hook when they’ve done wrong is just as important as forgiveness. Isn’t that what we want as much as forgiveness, to know that the debt isn’t just paid but that we are okay in the eyes of the one we transgressed? Mistakes are made every day in the marketplace by what people do and say. Unforgiveness can manifest as frustration goes unresolved. Whether mistakes are made out of ignorance, anger, or lack of experience, everybody deserves a second chance, including you and those around you. When you get in the habit of extending forgiveness, you get better at receiving it. Often the most important person to forgive is yourself. If God has forgiven us, who are we to withhold forgiveness from ourselves or those around us?
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- Whom do you need to let off the hook?
- Why is feeling free as important as feeling forgiven?
- Have you ever done something bad on purpose and still received forgiveness for it?
When you set someone free with forgiveness, the prisoner that is freed is you.
