Mindful of Others

"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.

Mark 9:42 (TNIV)

Be careful today, and every day, how you live if you call yourself a Christ follower. Always pay attention to how your actions and your words may be perceived by other Christians as we read here this morning a very strong warning from Jesus pertaining to how our actions may be a stumbling block to other Christ followers who have different areas of brokenness than you and I do. I recently was blessed by an opportunity to celebrate the release of my first Journey Bread book at a nearby gift shop. The shop owner had offered to supply champagne to the guests from a very sincere and heartfelt motive of just wanting the celebration to be the very best and first class. After praying about this decision as to the refreshments as well as the owner discussing the details of the event with her staff, we all decided that the best thing to do would be to serve punch as to not offend anyone or be a stumbling block to other brothers or sisters who may have a problem with alcohol. You see, it may be perfectly fine for you to have a glass of wine with dinner for instance while to another, a glass of wine would be a sin as it would cause a domino effect in their lives as one glass would not be enough and a downward spiral of drunkenness and separation from God would occur. Always live your life in a way that encourages others to draw near to God, in a way that promotes living a Holy life that is very different from the world around you. The apostle Peter describes how our lives should appear to the world around us in 2 Peter 2:11 when he says: “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” It is easy to forget in these days of relativity and social acceptance that as a Christ follower you are called to a higher standard; a much higher calling that will indeed cause you at times to appear as a stranger to this lost world of sin that is crying out for something different, for someone to share with them this supernatural love that you have been blessed with by our Father in Heaven which causes you to live much differently than other colleagues and friends and family members. Step out and be different today, let your light shine in this dark world so that others may see and know that Jesus is alive and believe.