Welcome Friends
Thank you for joining me today.
Let’s start by putting on our full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)
so we can take a stand against the devil’s schemes.
My prayer for you today is to help identify the enemy’s schemes by bring awareness to them so we can avoid these pitfalls.
Today’s lesson is– Satan may use individuals to lead others into sin, so be alert. Do not stumble, and do not be the one who causes others to stumble.
Matthew 18:6 says “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
This is a powerful verse of the seriousness of leading others into sin.
Those who are vulnerable and new in their faith are especially at risk and we need to be mindful to prevent causing them to stumble in their faith and their walk with God. Our actions, words, and guidance carry great weight, and we must strive to nurture and protect their spiritual journey.
Let’s take a moment and look at our own actions, words and behaviors and ask ourselves
How am I intentionally/unintentionally causing someone to stumble.
Over the past several decades, I can recall many situations, caused by myself and others, and how we have led another to sin.
Here are a few examples of what it means to cause others to stumble
1. trying to engage others- into judging others
oh yes, we can all raise our hands to this one.
Can anyone honestly say that they haven’t judged someone on how they are raising/raised their children.
Judging someone’s particular eating habits, judging someone on their kids schooling preference, judging someone on how they discipline their kids and their parenting style, judging someone on how they spend their money, judging someone on how they look. I can go on and on…..
Romans 14:13:”Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”
Judging others is a sin, and trying to engage someone into a judgmental conversation is equally sinful. By doing so, you’re leading that person into sin by tempting them to join you in judging others.
2. Provoking others into anger
In our everyday interactions, we might consciously or unconsciously provoke others into anger.
When you’re having an off day and know that a particular action annoys someone, you might do or say something to provoke them into anger.
those little snippety comments, sarcastic remarks, testing their patients, remarks that undermine someone’s character, achievements or feelings, making comments or jokes at someone’s expense in front of others, negative attitudes.
These are just a few examples of how we might provoke someone to respond angrily.
Timothy 2:23:”Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.”
Provoking others to anger or sin is not just harmful to relationships but is also considered a sinful act.
We need to be mindful and steer clear of these sinful acts. We should reflect on our behavior and ensure we are not leading others into temptation.
3. involving others to engage in drama
“Did you hear what happened with so and so?
“Don’t tell anyone I told you this……”
“I shouldn’t be telling you this, but……”
“Promise you won’t say anything”
” so and so said this about you.”
“This stays between us, “
“You didn’t hear it from me, but…”
Proverbs 16:28:“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
The destructive nature of gossip is a sinful act.
When you start a conversation of gossip, you are encouraging others to stumble into sin along with you.
Gossiping together bonds people over negativity, Gossip shows a lack of empathy and compassion,
Gossip is a sin that can have spiritual repercussions
4. Involving innocent people into your own personal disputes
If you’re having a fight or a dispute with someone, the first thing you might do is reach for your phone to tell your best friend, your parents, your siblings, or even your own children.
By doing so, you provoke them to take sides and pass judgment, leading to negative thoughts about that person. Now they become entangled in your personal dispute.
Your actions may cause unnecessary anger in others that could cause them to stumble and sin alongside with you
1. trying to engage others into judging others
2. Provoking others into anger
3. involving others to engage in drama
4. Involving innocent people into your own personal disputes
As believers, we need to stop handing out offense to avoid leading others into sin, and to stop being a stumbling block to others, as commanded by Jesus.
I invite you to join me today in making a heartfelt commitment to be more mindful of our actions. Together, let’s become more aware of how we could potentially be causing others to stumble and leading them to sin. Let’s choose to not be that person.
Heaven Father,
I come before you in prayer and ask for your guidance and wisdom to help us inspire each other and
to lift us up. Open our eyes Lord so we may see our faults. We desire to draw nearer to You, Lord, and to mature so that my actions may align more closely with Your Word.
Please forgive me for causing others to stumble and sin.
I yearn to transform my heart and strive to be a better person today than I was the day before.
Amen
join me today by changing ourselves to make a difference in the world around us.
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