Stoned

One of the unfortunate ways that man dealt with punishment in biblical times was stoning. Many accounts in the Bible tell of the sinner or offender being stoned to death. What is the opposite behavior from this radical way of dealing with anger and hurt?

Romans 12:8-20 (New Living Translation)

8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
 9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
 14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.
If I’m reading this passage right, God has a plan for us that does not include condemning, judging,
scolding, and stoning. You may be thinking that you’ve never stoned anyone, but don’t be too quick to let yourself off the hook. We may have never literally taken up a stone and thrown it at someone, but how many times have we hurled insults, accusations, and judgements on others. In the end those kinds of actions can bring just as much if not more damage to a person’s spirit as a stone does to their physical body.

Today will be a day of choices, will you be an agent for good in the lives of others or will you take part in their destruction? Unless you’re ready to start picking up stones, their is no way better than
His way. As Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

the pilgrim