Word@Work Luke257 - Luke 17:1-3a
Published: Thu, 12/16/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
DANGEROUS SOURCE OF INFECTION
Luke 17:1-3a Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied round his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves." (NIV)
This world was created perfectly, and so were the first man and woman. But since sin gained a foothold, it has become an endemic disease affecting everybody. The consequences of sin are seen everywhere, and temptations to sin more abound. Jesus accepted that was the moral state of human society, but He had very strong words to any who thought that it did not matter, or who had no conscience about passing the disease to others to make their own moral state worse than it was.
Perhaps referring to Judas Iscariot who facilitated the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, the Master said that the endemic nature of sin was no excuse for individuals infecting others or making matters worse. Rarely does Jesus express such condemnation of those whose sin contaminates others, especially 'little ones' (who might either be children or those young in the faith). The fact that the 'grown up world' is corrupt is no excuse to corrupt others.
These powerful warnings to the disciples need to sink into our hearts too. Selfishness and carelessness are as dangerous as evil wilfulness and malice. Yet the sad fact is that no believer, including those in leadership, has succeeded in being totally perfect in this matter. Yet this warning of Christ's great displeasure is intended to make us stop and think, repent and seek His mercy. Past mistakes must not be repeated and the harm caused to 'little ones' must be taken seriously. It is a very high standard, but without it we will easily descend into a pit of relativism where the clear call of the gospel is obscured by the moral mess created by self-obsessed believers.
Prayer: Holy God. Thank You that Jesus spoke so clearly that I cannot be in any doubt about the seriousness of causing others to sin. Yet my sharpened conscience is well aware of personal fault in this. Please have mercy upon me, cleanse me from my sin through Your most precious blood, I pray. Help me to be much more sensitised and aware of my potential to do harm as well as good. And keep me humbly trusting in Your help so that I may work with You rather than frustrating Your purposes for others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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This world was created perfectly, and so were the first man and woman. But since sin gained a foothold, it has become an endemic disease affecting everybody. The consequences of sin are seen everywhere, and temptations to sin more abound. Jesus accepted that was the moral state of human society, but He had very strong words to any who thought that it did not matter, or who had no conscience about passing the disease to others to make their own moral state worse than it was.
Perhaps referring to Judas Iscariot who facilitated the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, the Master said that the endemic nature of sin was no excuse for individuals infecting others or making matters worse. Rarely does Jesus express such condemnation of those whose sin contaminates others, especially 'little ones' (who might either be children or those young in the faith). The fact that the 'grown up world' is corrupt is no excuse to corrupt others.
These powerful warnings to the disciples need to sink into our hearts too. Selfishness and carelessness are as dangerous as evil wilfulness and malice. Yet the sad fact is that no believer, including those in leadership, has succeeded in being totally perfect in this matter. Yet this warning of Christ's great displeasure is intended to make us stop and think, repent and seek His mercy. Past mistakes must not be repeated and the harm caused to 'little ones' must be taken seriously. It is a very high standard, but without it we will easily descend into a pit of relativism where the clear call of the gospel is obscured by the moral mess created by self-obsessed believers.
Prayer: Holy God. Thank You that Jesus spoke so clearly that I cannot be in any doubt about the seriousness of causing others to sin. Yet my sharpened conscience is well aware of personal fault in this. Please have mercy upon me, cleanse me from my sin through Your most precious blood, I pray. Help me to be much more sensitised and aware of my potential to do harm as well as good. And keep me humbly trusting in Your help so that I may work with You rather than frustrating Your purposes for others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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