Lines in the Sand--Mercy and Judgment

2 Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” John 8:2-11

Only You know, Lord where the lines of mercy and judgment should be drawn. We must have boundaries, or we will have complete lawlessness. We must have mercy or we will become hardened in our hearts.

Your mercy does not allow for unjust acts towards the innocent or the righteous to go unaccounted for. Yet Your judgment doesn't mean that You never forgive intentional acts of sin. There is a balance that is just, fair and right. You know the balance. You know the hearts of men. You judge rightly every time.

Your judgment, when it gets in the heart of man, will cause them to forgive. Your mercy, in the heart of a man, will cause him to judge righteously. We need both.

Show us Your heart. Teach us Your ways. May we fully understand and properly balance Your Word which says:

"For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:13

and...

12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves. 1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 1 Corinthians 5:12-6:3