“Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours

Everything I am for Your kingdom’s cause

As I walk from earth into eternity”

These words from Hillsong’s “Hosanna” reverberated from the walls of a small school cafeteria full of people seeking Jesus in Oakdale this morning. 

God was already working in my heart to do just that before those words even left my mouth this morning as I sang along on worship team. 

Yesterday morning I ran through my normal Saturday routine of waking up, getting ready, stopping by the post office to pick up my mail, and heading to a nearby coffee shop to meet some of the best women I know to dive into God’s Word. 

I happened to arrive a little earlier than normal and the men’s Bible study was still hanging out, so I ordered my coffee and breakfast and had a seat at a smaller table to kill some time before the women took over our normal table. 

I opened up Facebook for what I thought would be a mindless scroll, and I ran across an article about a 5-year-old boy who was thrown from the 3rd floor of the Mall of America by a random man. There wasn’t much information at that point, because authorities still were unclear on many details. Normally I would read the article, think something like, “Oh that’s so sad” and move on, but for some reason, I was prompted to delve further. 

I looked up several different articles and then unwittingly dove into the comments section on Facebook. People were commenting that they were praying for the young boy and his family, for healing and peace and comfort, because of course they were – they need those prayers! 

What really struck me was the comments about the young man (24 years old) who allegedly was the one who threw the boy. Comments abounding regarding what an evil person he was, and how could someone do that?, and even more vengeful comments suggesting people violently take matters into their own hands. In that moment, I felt convicted to pray for that man. So that’s what I did throughout the rest of the day.

This morning, as our setup team for our little plant church gathered for prayer, I just felt so strongly to request that we pray for this man (and of course the boy and his family), and as I started talking about how this man was a creation of God and needed healing and Jesus just as much as any of us, tears flowed uncontrollably from my eyes. It took me by surprise, but I knew that it was the Holy Spirit working in me. 

The rest of the morning I was a mess – crying during prayer and when anyone asked me how I was doing, and then people saw me crying and would ask if I was okay and it would start all over again – all God breaking my heart for what breaks His. Opening up my eyes to the things unseen. Showing me how to love like He has loved me. 

It brought to mind the story of Jesus and the adulterous woman. The Pharisees see Jesus teaching and bring to him a woman who had been caught in adultery: 

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Who are any of us to cast a stone at this MOA man? Who are we to cast a stone at anyone? Each sin deserves death and punishment regardless of the severity to the human eye. Each human is a creation of God, made in His image and that’s who Jesus came for – everyone. 

None of us deserves Salvation. And yet we have it through the life, blood, death, and resurrection of Jesus – something that we take the time to reflect on and celebrate this last week of Lent. 

That man at the Mall of America could be any of us, one snap or mental health breakdown from wreaking havoc on another life, community, or ourselves.

Before we throw stones this week, let us ask ourselves if that person could use prayer. If they could use love and an encouraging word instead of ridicule and condemnation. If they need Jesus. Because couldn’t we all?