Gospel

Don't Cause One to Stumble

by Roland Crim
04/20/17
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Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves. Luke 17:1-3a NIV

In today’s passage, Jesus warns us that we need to watch that which we do. It is one thing to sin, but it is even worse to lead another into sin.

When we do what is wrong in the eyes of the Lord, we can go to Him in prayer, with a repentant heart, and ask for forgiveness. Yet, if by our actions, we cause someone else to sin, we cannot have God forgive them. We can, though, pray for them, and ask God to lead that person to Him. That person needs to make the effort to go to God asking for forgiveness. When we cause someone else to sin, through our actions, it is either something premeditated, or we were very careless in our actions. We are responsible to the Lord for our actions. We thus must be careful in what we do. If doing something is questionable, it is best to just not do it, rather than going ahead and realizing it was the wrong action to take.

Christ is quite serious about this matter. Would you rather it be better for you if you were thrown into the sea with a millstone around your neck? I don’t thinks so. Truly be careful in your actions. Turn wrongful actions over to the Lord, asking for forgiveness. If your actions have lead someone astray, then let them know the wrong you have done. That just might lead them to Christ to ask for forgiveness too.