Put Down The Stone

We talk about judgment and how easy it is to pick up “stones” made of words, gossip, and comments, especially online. We look at Jesus’s response to public condemnation and choose mercy, truth, and restoration over pride. 
• judgment that elevates us while tearing others down 
• modern “digital stones” through posts, opinions, and sarcasm 
• John 8 and the challenge to drop the stone 
• grace and truth walking together without ignoring sin 
• Matthew 7 and confronting hypocrisy with humility 
• Galatians 6 and restoring people gently 
• James 2 and why mercy triumphs over judgment 
• heart-check questions before we confront or comment 
• choosing the cross over condemnation 
If you like what you heard, please share it with a friend. Um the website is www.forchristministry.com. The phone number is 706-267-1467. 

Transcript

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A Tribute To The Misfits

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The ones who see the world differently. Who don't fit neatly into boxes. And refuse to live by someone else's script. You can quote them, you can disagree with them. You can glorify them or vilify them. You can shake your head at their ideas or be inspired by their courage. But the one thing you cannot do is ignore them. Because they change things. They disrupt what's comfortable, they challenge what's normal, and they push the human race forward. Sometimes with loud revolutions, sometimes with quiet persistence that changes everything over time. They see possibility where others see limits. They dare to dream out loud when the world tells them to be silent. They take risks, they stumble, they rise again, and they keep going. Not because it's easy, but because they can't imagine doing anything else. These are the ones who remind us that every great leap forward was once considered impossible. So here's to them: the ones who won't sit down, won't be quiet, and won't stop until the world is different. Because they're the reason it will be.

A Warning Against Escapes

SPEAKER_02 1:34

Don't trade your future for a temporary escape. Freedom starts with truth.

Sponsor Message And Wellness Plug

SPEAKER_03 1:48

This episode is sponsored partly by TrayNot. Taking care of your body matters. That's why I've partnered with TrayNot. Traynaut offers high-quality supplements designed to support your energy and overall wellness. So if you want to feel better and stay consistent, go to traynaut.com forward slash B-Rob. That's Traynaut.com forward slash B Rob.

Welcome Back And The Topic

SPEAKER_01 2:19

Hello. We would like to welcome you to the Facebook with my husband, your home B Rob. So without further ado, here's B Rob.

SPEAKER_03 2:42

Welcome back, and it is B Rob. And it is the Food for Thought Faith Cast. Listen to me, it is B-Rob. Man, I'm B Rob, and this is the Food for Thought Faith Cast. Y'all can tell I've uh been off my game a little bit. I haven't done this in a minute. It's time to get back to it. Time to uh welcome everybody back. I hope everybody is good. I hope everybody has uh had a wonderful month of July. And I'm so glad you joined me today because today I want to talk about something that every single one of us struggles with from time to time or has struggled with one time or another.

When Judgment Becomes A Weapon

SPEAKER_03 3:40

Judgment. Judgment, judgment. I'm not talking about biblical discernment, I'm not talking about standing up for truth, I'm talking about the kind of judgment that elevates ourselves while tearing somebody else down, and a lot of times as humans, we don't even realize we're doing it because of our programming. See, we look and see and hear so much stuff because of technology, and then we see somebody's failure, we see a post online, we hear some gossip, someone makes a bad decision, and before you know it, we'd reached in our bag, pulled out a stone, and picked one up. Even though I'm saying stones, today's stones are not made of rock. Today's stones are made of words, opinions, comments, gossip, sarcasm, cold shoulders. And a lot of times they're they're disguised as I'm just telling the truth or facts.

The Woman Caught In Adultery

SPEAKER_03 5:22

But let me take you back about two thousand years. Let me take you back about two thousand years. There was another crowd, and they were actually holding stones, and standing in front of them was Jesus. So if you look at John chapter eight, and just read. You see, they were using this question as a trap in order to have in order so they could have a basis for accusation. But Jesus bent down and started to write something on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, Let any of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. Again he stooped down to write on the ground. At this those who heard him began to go away one at a time. The older ones left first until Jesus was the only one left with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? She said, No, sir, then neither do I condemn you. Jesus said, Go now and leave your life of sin. Notice verse seven. It says, Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. Can you imagine the silence? Just imagine that. Little crowd, and Jesus says that. The religious leaders expected some kind of debate. The woman expected death. The crowd expected to throw stones at the woman. Instead, Jesus exposed every single one of their hearts. All of them. Everybody in that crowd. One by one, the stones hit the ground until only Jesus and the woman remained. You see, the only person who had the right to throw any stone in that whole group was Jesus. And he chose mercy. Did he ignore the sin? No. He never ignored the sin. He offered forgiveness and called her to a transformed life. You see, that's grace and truth. And that's how they both walk together.

Digital Stones And Social Media Shame

SPEAKER_03 9:12

Imagine. I want you to take a minute and think about something. Imagine making the biggest mistake of your life. Somebody records it. They put it on the internet. Thousands of comments appear out of nowhere. Everyone's just throwing stones. We'll call these digital stones. They throwing drones. Digital stones. That was stupid. But anyway. And then imagine Jesus with a smartphone and Facebook. And seeing that. Scrolling through the comments. And then he makes the comments, what have I forgiven you for? Don't you think the comments would stop? Not because sin isn't serious. But because the only reason everyone is still there is because of God's mercy. I mean, sin is serious. But he just asked you what is he forgiving you for. Think about that. You see, the weapons have changed over the years. We're more digitized, we're more projected, we're more real time. But the heart has never changed.

Judge Not And The Plank

SPEAKER_03 11:33

And what did Jesus mean by judge not? Let's look at uh Matthew. Look at Matthew 7. Verses 1 through 5. Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye when all the time there's a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eyes. So here, here Jesus isn't telling us to ignore sin, but he's confronting hypocrisy. He describes someone trying to move a speck from another person's eye while they got a plank hanging out of their own eye. But because pride is blinding. Pride blinds us. Humility is what helps restore others instead of condemning them. And you see, restoration has always been the goal. Look

Restore Gently And Carry Burdens

SPEAKER_03 13:21

at Galatians six, just verses one and two. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you may also be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. You see, Paul's just reminding us that when someone falls short or falls into sin, the goal should be restoration. Not humiliation, not being the one who's right, not proving you're right, not saying I told you so. But he also tells us to watch ourselves because any of us could fall at any time. Any of us. Any of us could fall at any time.

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

SPEAKER_03 14:36

Now let's let's look at let's look at where mercy triumphs. If you turn your Bibles to James 2, and if you look, if you look at twelve and thirteen, it says, speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. That's what I'm talking about. You see, if God treated us the way we treat others, none of us would have hope. None of us. Because every single day we live, we wake up breathing is because of his mercy and his grace alone. And we all need grace. There's not a one of us here that does not need grace or mercy.

Questions To Check Your Heart

SPEAKER_03 16:23

If you look at Romans three, twenty-one and twenty six twenty-one through twenty-six. But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the law and the prophets testify. This righteousness is given through the faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and falled short of the glory of God. Every single one of us, it says all. It doesn't say some, it doesn't say few. It says all. And it says we all fall short of the glory of God. But the good thing is, is we have ground level at the foot of the cross. You see, the self-righteous need a savior as much as the broken. So before you pick up a stone, before you cast your next judgment, I want you to ask yourself to invite God to search your own heart. Ask yourself, are you speaking from love? Or are you speaking from pride? Ask yourself, do you generally want restoration for that person? Or are you just trying to be right? Is it selfish? Ask yourself, would you want to would you want someone, that person, to approach you the way you're about to approach them? All good questions to ask yourself today. Because let me tell you this. The only hands worthy to throw a stone were the hands that were pierced for you. You see, Jesus Christ chose the cross instead of the stone. And we also get a choice. We get to choose whether we want his mercy over condemnation, whether we want his grace over pride, and whether or not we want his restoration over rejection. Because the only way a heart can be transformed is when they encounter the grace of the living God.

Prayer And Final Invitations

SPEAKER_03 19:57

Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today, Lord. We thank you for your incredible mercy that you've shown for us through Jesus. We thank you for your son. We thank you that you are amazing and your mercy abounds. Lord, please forgive us for the times that we've been quick to judge others while forgetting how much you've forgiven us. Lord, we ask that you search our hearts and remove any trace of pride that we may have. Lord, help us to seek restoration instead of condemnation. Lord, just we ask that our lives reflect the compassion of your Son Jesus. Lord, help us to put down our own stones. Lord help us to lift up people with your love and truth. That your will be done in the precious name of Jesus, in the matchless name of Jesus. Amen and hallelujah. Well, guys, I thank you today. And if you like what you heard, please share it with a friend. Um the website is www.forechristministry.com. The phone number is 706-267-1467. If you just want to talk, I am licensed in life insurance in Georgia and South Carolina. So if you need state regulated benefits, please let me know. Guys, I love you. God loves you. And if you do not have a relationship with Jesus, it is very important that you get right. Thank you and God bless. See you next time.