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Who is on the Lord’s side?
Convicted but not condemned.
How do we keep from stumbling?
“if your hand”
Our hand is that part of us that reaches out taking hold what we want.
Never take hold of something without realizing that the thing you hold may very well take hold of you.
I have seen this happen to people to the point where their lives are held by something that now holds them. I was a smoker for 20 years and that certainly had a hold on me until prayer set me free.
People become involved in hobbies and leisure pursuits that take a hold in time and money to the neglect of more important priorities and the needs of others.
A hand extended can encourage or bring harm. The enemy will willingly take your hand and lead you astray.
“if your foot”
Our feet will take us into situations and to meet with many people that agree that life is a journey for all of us. But we must be sure of our final destination and not stray from the truth.
“if your eye”
The eye looks at things we see creating desire. Desire then begins to stir our emotion and a battle begins. The media and advertising industry continually use this encouraging us that our life will be so much better if we buy their product or service. In these days there is much to attract our attention.
If we are to walk carefully not causing those around us to sin how do we do that?
The consequence of ignoring these words of Jesus leaves us in no doubt of the final outcome.
Let me share with you this morning some words of Charles Finney,
“The life of Christ within a believer will decline and end unless Christians are frequently reconverted. In order to remain in the spirit of revival, Christians need to be frequently convicted, humbled and broken before God, reconverted. Many don’t understand when I speak of a Christian being reconverted. Even during revival times a Christian’s heart is likely to crust over and lose it’s delight for divine things. Passion, motivation and victory in prayer will dwindle, and then the Christian must be reconverted again. He will impede a revival unless he passes through this process every few days.
We began this morning with the words of Jesus and to find the answer to ensuring we don’t cause others to sin we must return to Jesus’ words again as a starting place. This time we see the reply that Jesus gave to one of the scribes when He was asked, Which is the first commandment of all?
Read Mark 12:28-34
To focus our attention heavenward means ridding ourselves of certain vices and cultivating certain virtues.
The old man must be put to death and Jesus becomes the love of our new life.
Paul in writing to the church at Colosse reveals in greater detail the character of the new man in Christ
Chapter 3:12-16
This is why it is so important that we continue to meet together to help carry one another’s burdens, be encouraged through the preaching of the word and bring our offerings of praise and worship with grateful thanks
Finally, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-25
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