Are You Building Them Up Or Tearing Them Down?

Monday's Devotion (1-31-05)

"And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." Mark 9:42 (KJV)

I believe that this scripture is talking about offending two types of little ones. The first type is little children and the second type is new believers. I have an in-law who has fallen away from the Lord and the main reason is because of a group of 'Christians' that didn't treat him right. You might say that this is a petty reason to fall away from the Lord, but he lived with these people and the way that he was treated from this group of believers was sickening. They made his life and his walk with the Lord, very difficult and not only was he a child, but he was a new believer. You can imagine the impression a new believer/child would receive after an incident like this. It's not for me to judge in this situation, but read the scripture... looks like the Lord, has already made a judgment concerning this sin. God, does a work to bring the new believers to Him, He doesn't need us doing a work to make them go further away.

This sin happens over and over everyday. The new believers life can be very difficult, because of this. Look around and think of someone's life you may be making very difficult. This is a serious issue, we need to be shinning and if we're making people's lives difficult then we're either turning saved people away or we're helping to keep people from being saved. People look at us as believers and they expect more out of us. The question is: Will you be accounted as innocent before the Lord? If you don't think so then take the time right now to repent and ask forgiveness. That's all you have to do and remember the meaning of the word, "repent". Repent, means to turn from your sins (Not to do them again). If you're not sure what you're doing, concerning the little ones then ask yourself this question: Am I building them up in the faith or am I tearing them down in the faith. Be honest with yourself in answering the question.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this message and for all things. Please forgive us of all our sins and we forgive all those who've wronged us. Please help us not to offend one of the little ones. Help us to do right to all people, but in doing so to also do right to you. In Jesus, name. A-men!

God bless!

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