Tag Archives: stumbling block

Don’t be a tempter (Luke 17:1-4) December 12, 2016

Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Deuteronomy 26-28

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Luke 17:1-4
Jesus (to His disciples): You can’t stop temptations to do wrong from coming. But how tragic it will be for the person who becomes the source of the temptation! It would be better if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
So each of you needs to be careful. If your brother sins against you, confront him about it, and if he has a change of mind and heart, then forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times in a single day, if he turns back to you each time and says he’s sorry and will change, you must forgive him.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

These can be really hard words for us if we take them to heart. We have a responsibility to teach those that come behind us. We’re supposed to make the world a better place. Jesus told us to teach others the practices He taught us. But He tells us in this discourse that if we cause others to fall because of following our example, it would be better if we were to drown in the sea. Those are pretty harsh words, but Jesus usually meant what He said.

If I’m the source of temptation for someone, then I must answer for not only my wrongs, but the temptations that led my brother astray as well. Does that seem fair? It doesn’t matter whether we think so or not, Jesus made the declaration and He will be the One standing at the Judgment bar at the end of time. So we ought to pay attention to what He says.

So what does that mean for us? Does that mean that we can never have fun and must spend all our time at the church participating in religious activities so we don’t tempt our brothers. I don’t think so. The Pharisees spent most of their time at the temple and synagogues, but got blasted about their unfaithfulness to God. They thought they were doing things right, but these words were pointed directly at them and their hypocrisy. They lost their way. They got caught up in their religion instead of in their relationship with God and man. Don’t cause others to fall.

So we can lead others astray doing good things if we leave God out of the equation. If we don’t build those good deeds on the faith in Christ that drives them, they can lead to eternal death and destruction as surely as murder and theft and adultery will. Doing good is right and proper, but there must be something behind it. Even the most evil people do good sometimes. They just have the wrong motive behind their good deeds. They do good things for something in return, not to glorify God and share His love with others.

Does making sure we don’t tempt others mean we can never have fun? Absolutely not. Some of the most fun I’ve had is in a crowd of Christian friends. And without the alcohol and drugs or other mind altering paraphernalia, we remembered everything that happened the next day! I can’t say that about some of the non-Christian friends whose parties I attended. After a few too many drinks they had a hard time remembering what they said or did the night before and didn’t want to do anything but sleep the next day. I think Jesus had a great time with His friends. I think He enjoyed life immensely. So, no, we don’t have to be a perpetual sour puss to keep others from being tempted.

Does it mean we can never associate with other sinners? I don’t think so. That’s not what Jesus taught us. He ate with sinners all the time. That’s one of the things the scribes and Pharisees kept bringing up as proof He must not be the Son of God. He kept talking with people they would never talk to because of what they did. Jesus ate with tax collectors and prostitutes, no less. But how else will they get God’s message unless we befriend sinners? That doesn’t mean we behave the same way they do, but we certainly should be their friend.

So what does Jesus mean when He tells us not to tempt others? How can we live life in such a way that we don’t lead others astray or become a stumbling block for them as they journey through life. I think it’s a simple answer but not always an easy path. The answer is live like Jesus. But the only way to do that is to let Him be in total control of your life. And that’s not always easy. He will have you going places and doing things that are against your nature. He will put you in situations where you are uncomfortable. He will put words in your mind that He wants you to share that you would rather not come out of your mouth because you don’t not what will happen when you speak them.

When you let Jesus rule your life and do what He asks you to do, you don’t need to worry about making anyone stumble. You don’t need to worry about being anyone else’s tempter. Just live like Jesus. Simple answer, tall order until He become the absolute Lord of you life. Try Him on for size. You’ll see for yourself.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

The words (Matthew 22:42-45), May 24, 2016

Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – 2 Samuel 20-24

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 22:42-45
Jesus: What do you think about the Anointed One? Whose Son is He?
Pharisees: But, of course, He is the Son of David.
Jesus: Then how is it that David—whose words were surely shaped by the Spirit—calls Him “Lord”? For in his psalms David writes,
The Master said to my master
“Sit here at My right hand,
in the place of honor and power,
And I will gather Your enemies together,
lead them in on hands and knees,
and You will rest Your feet on their backs.”
How can David call his own Son “Lord”?

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Jesus has thwarted all the religious leaders. He saw through all their tricks. He avoided all their traps. He turned their words against them when they tried to trip Him with their rules and regulations. They tried to point to infractions of the law of Moses, but didn’t understand Jesus was there when the Law was given to Moses. In fact, He wrote the words on the tablets of stone. He was and is God. They thought they knew the word of God, but He was the Word of God.

Those religious leaders didn’t have a chance against Him. They wanted to make the people turn against Jesus. They wanted to cause the crowds to think He was corrupt and evil, a son of the devil. But every time they tried, Jesus only proved again that He was the Son of God. He confounded them over and over. So they had run out of questions. Their attempts failed. They couldn’t trick Him into doing wrong or misstating the facts or changing His mind. They just couldn’t match His wisdom and understanding.

So what do we learn from this?

I hear so many “intellectuals” try to debate the existence of God, the rightness of any religion as long as you’re sincere, or the rightness of no religion. I hear so many who want to discount the reality of the Creator. But that’s okay. They can try their best, but in the end, Jesus will have the final word. If you are one of those who fight against Him, you will find yourself on the losing side of the battle. You’ll admit one day that you’re just not smarter than God no matter how much you think you are.

There are those who wish to think there is no God because they want to wish away His commands. They want to think His laws do not apply. If they acknowledge He exists, they must acknowledge He has sovereign over all things and there will be a final reckoning for all we have done in this life. When you acknowledge the existence of God you must accept the whole package. Jesus talked about heaven and hell, a final battle of good and evil, a final judgment at which those who follow Him will be ushered into the presence of God and rewarded with eternal life with Him.

You can’t ignore the parts you want and just pick and choose the words you like leaving the rest behind. God’s word is God’s word. Either all of it is true or none of it. We take it or leave it. It’s still our choice, but that’s the only two choices. No discarding the parts we don’t like. That’s no a choice on the test.

So Jesus used scriptures those religious leaders knew well to show them how little they really knew about God and His word. They tried their best to use scripture to cause Jesus to stumble. But it was they who fell on their face when they tripped over it. Jesus used the scriptures against these religious leaders just like He used scriptures against Satan and with the rich man who went away sorrowfully and all who choose their own way instead of God’s way.

God doesn’t keep secrets from us. It’s all there in His word. We just need to remember how to use it. God’s word is not a place to just find your favorite verses and skip the rest. It’s not a place to read a few words every once in a while when you feel like it. God’s word is the place to get to know Him, His plan for this world and for your life. It’s the place where He left His instructions for life. If we would listen to Him in it and obey it, it’s amazing how much better life happens day by day. Circumstances don’t rock us. We find joy and peace as we listen to His voice in the beauty of His words.

Those without faith in Jesus stumbled over the law. Those with faith in Him find peace in those same words. When you try to defeat Him, you’ll discover you only defeat yourself.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.