Read Luke 17:1-2
“Watch Yourselves!”
Jesus said, “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, 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.”
As a Christian, I have to be careful with the choices I make because I’m either encouraging people toward Jesus or I’m not. If a Christian person saw me caught up in a behavior that was a bad testimony for my faith, they would conclude, perhaps, that it was an acceptable behavior. I seemed to think it was okay, so they do the same thing. So now, I’ve caused someone to stumble. So now, according to Jesus, it would be better for me to have a large millstone hung around my neck and be drowned in the sea. Wow! That’s harsh. But Jesus is making a point, don’t mess around with people’s Faith walk! Be a role model! Be a person of integrity for Jesus!
Jesus ended by saying, “So watch yourselves!” In other words, be aware of how you are coming across with your decisions. Is what I’m doing, or not doing, helping point people toward Jesus or away from Jesus? For example:
1. Do I engage in dirty jokes at work or when I’m with a certain group of people?
2. Does my language change when I’m with a certain group of people versus when I’m at church?
3. If someone is being picked on, do I defend them or sit quietly in the back? Sure, I can boast how I didn’t engage in the bullying, but I was silent as if to say, “It’s okay for people to bully others!” My silence gave approval of a behavior while God was looking for someone to show mercy and compassion. Take heed to Jesus words, “Watch Yourselves!
