Stumbling

 Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭42‬-‭43‬, ‭45‬, ‭47‬-‭48                      

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where “ ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭42‬-‭43‬, ‭45‬, ‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What is the first thing to strike you when you look into the eyes of a little child? Surely, it is the child’s innocence.  A little child does not lie or put on airs. A little child simply is. A flower is what it is, a star is what it is. So, too, is the child.

These verses are a gut-level wake-up call. Our Lord will shock us so we truly embrace the destructiveness of sin, and embrace the need to live holy, because great danger demands drastic action.

Stumbling here is not the causing someone to fall down. It is causing someone to fall down in the belief in Jesus. He is more concerned with their spiritual welfare than their physical welfare.

A person who physically falls only creates a short-term physical problem. Falling spiritually can cause a lot of greater problems that can last for all eternity, if not dealt with correctly.

The ‘little ones’ mentioned here are not just children, but all new believers. New believers are called infants in the bible and need to grow into maturity. And all believers are called the children of God, regardless of how long they have been a believer.

So often in our passion to preserve the purity of the faith, we begin to exclude others. While purity in our faith is important, Jesus reminds us of the other side of the matter, woe to us if we exclude someone who Jesus sees as belonging to him or do anything to cause another to lose faith.

New Christians, weak believers, and children are all precious to God. He doesn't want a single one to lose faith for any reason and certainly not because of the hardheadedness, hardheartedness, or arrogance of another believer.

In the world it is easy for people to think that they do not have a major influence on other people, but that is not true. Every believer sets an example before every other person that they are around. Parents have a major influence on their children. Co-workers have a major influence on their fellow co-workers.

If someone sees a believer doing some sin as though it is nothing, it can cause that person to follow in that sinful way. This is different from doing an accidently sin, it is doing a sin on purpose. Purposefully telling lies, cheating, stealing, cursing others, disobedience and any other sin.

As a believer you have to be careful how you lead others or what you show others that Jesus looks like. You are the representation of Jesus on this earth. If you live your life in sin, while claiming to be a believer, you may cause someone to fall away from Jesus. At that point, it would be better if you were drowned in the sea.

Live your life in a way that does not cause others to stumble in any way. Be the shining example of who Jesus is. Lead people to Jesus, not away from Him.

Jesus reminds us to be a support for others rather than causing them to stumble or fall. We must also watch out for the things in our life that can cause us to stumble. It’s better to get rid of them than to fall!!!

Father,thank You for this day and warning to eschew all that is evil and sinful from our lives. Lord let Your abundant blessings flow from the floodgates of heaven over my friend and family today. Lord we know that in our own strength, our fleshly works will be burned up like filthy rags in Your Holy Presence. Lord we thank You that there are good works for us to do which will stand the test of Your purifying fires when carried out in the power of Your Holy Spirit and through Your sufficient grace. Lord be with present with all your children today, in all the troubled places in our world, and also with us here. Lord help us not to misrepresent You and help us all to hear Your voice, and heed it. Lord use my friend to be someone’s blessing today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !!