#1191. Don’t make others stumble (20/11/24)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series.

Today, from Luke 17:1-2, we reflect on how we are to do all we can avoid to inspire faith in others rather than being a source of stumbling.

Luke 17:1–2

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https://youtu.be/bsPNP9I-9cw

‘But woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.’ (Luke 17:1b-2)

1. This is a stern warning for the religious leaders

This is a very stern warning. I’m sure that this strikes all of us with its confrontational tone. In essence, Jesus is warning that anyone who leads another into sin will be cast into judgment and hell!

Firstly, it’s important to remember that Jesus is addressing the religious leaders of His day; In the previous chapters, they were the ones who didn’t care about ‘the lost sheep’, ‘the lost coin’ or ‘the lost son’. They were ‘the older brother’ and they were ‘the unmerciful rich man’. They were the ones who were trying to undermine faith in Jesus. Of them we read:

‘Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2)

Luke 15:1–2

They were causing many to stumble and undermining the faith of ‘little ones’.

2. This is a warning to all

Jesus has ‘little ones’ - new or weak believers - in mind. This is a warning to all in our day who would seek to undermine the faith of others. Those who try to dissuade or intimidate people away from faith in Christ will face the sternest of judgments! Added to this, we cause people to stumble when we fail to show the mercy and justice that the ‘little ones’ need from us.

We don’t have the time to go into details on this, but Christians are to do all that they can to encourage rather than discourage their brothers and sister. As Paul writes:

‘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’ (Romans 14:13)

Romans 14:13

We must be careful not to cause a brother or sister to stumble through poor teaching or poor example.

Added to this, in our sexually perverse age, it needs to be stated that manipulation of the weak and vulnerable by the strong in order to lead them into sexual sin is detestable and must be confessed and repented of!

Let’s pray together

“Father, I thank you that you love your ‘little ones’. You love your children. Help me to rest in your love. Help me also to guard the faith and well being of my church family. Help me to be wise and loving so as to promote faith rather than promote discouragement or sin. Amen.”

Our next devotional is on Friday (22nd) when from Luke 17:3-4, we reflect on how we are to deal with sin in our relationships and help each other to get up when we’ve fallen.

Luke 17:3–4