Matthew 18:1 ¶ At the same
time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little
child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall
humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of
heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one
such little child in my name receiveth me. 6
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it
were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that
he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
We have to be as trusting as little children to enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven. Who knows, maybe we will be little children in Heaven, which
explains in one respect why Jesus says we are not given in marriage there.
That man or woman who humbles themselves like a weak and helpless
child before God receives the highest praise and to receive such a one into
fellowship is to receive Christ Himself. Plus, whoever causes one of these
children to stumble, who harms their faith, well it would be better if they had
had a millstone tied around their neck and they be thown into the sea.
Destroying the faith of another comes in several ways.
See to offend as to cause to stumble or cause to sin;
Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be
for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both
the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem.
1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of
stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being
disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Matthew 5:29 And if thy
right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is
profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell. 30
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee:
for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not
that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Discouraging them, a tactic of Satan, is a way of causing a
Christian to stumble in their faith by not believing they can be forgiven for
sin.
2Corinthians 2:5 ¶ But if
any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not
overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such
a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to
forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up
with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I
beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I
might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also:
for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it
in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an
advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Another method of Satan is to entice someone to sin in some
weakness of the flesh they may have;
Romans 14:1 ¶ Him that is
weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things:
another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3
Let not him
that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which
eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s
servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up:
for God is able to make him stand. 5 One
man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let
every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that
regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth,
eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the
Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord;
and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we
are the Lord’s.
9 For to this end Christ
both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and
living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy
brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand
before the judgment seat of Christ. 11
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to
me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any
more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to
fall in his brother’s way. 14 I know,
and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself:
but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with
thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for
whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good
be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of
God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy
Ghost. 18 For he that in these things
serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things
which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All
things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor
to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or
is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have
it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing
which he alloweth. 23 And he that
doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is
not of faith is sin.
Corrupting, or the case of the following from a Greek word meaning
to water down wine, the word of God.
2 Corinthians 2:17 For we
are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of
God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
I am sure you can think of other ways Christians have placed
stumbling blocks in the way of your faith that could have or did make you
stumble, make you to be offended. Maybe you’ve seen someone else crushed by the
shenanigans of a Christian. I taught homeschoolers at one time and a young
woman later told me that she had suffered abuse at the hands of a previous
teacher and was grateful that I wasn’t like him when I taught her.
No comments:
Post a Comment