Saturday, January 20, 2018

No Stumbling Blocks.

We are not to put a stumbling block in anyone's way as they seek to walk in the truth with Christ.

If they are persuaded of a truth you do not hold, to judge their walk to be false and interfere in it, you are in truth causing them to stumble.

We have to fully comprehend that we all must follow in faith the truth as the Holy Spirit reveals it to us, and convicts us. We can present our truths to those who inquire after them, but to try and force our truths on someone will forever be wrong.

If we look around at others who don't follow our particular revealed truths and judge that they can't possibly know Jesus or be known of Him, then we are truly lost because we have no power to discern their hearts, or their futures.

We are to live our truths and reveal them as prompted by the Holy Spirit. We aren't to take it upon ourselves to shove our truths down anyone's throat.

Right now there is not a single person being forced to read this, not one, at least not by me. For all I know- no one reads these little studies and that's all well and good. God knows and that's all that matters, and all that will ever matter. If but one person seeks the truth in Christ Jesus and is helped in any way by these writings all I can do is praise God, because it will be through Him it transpires. I have no power of my own to compel anyone.

If what I write does cause someone to stumble it's not because I've singled them out and am personally striving to do something to cause that to happen. God forbid I harm anyone's walk with Christ!

Truly, we are to love- not to judge. God has the power to convict and to know the proper time to do so, not us.  May God help us all to live the truth of Christ without causing any other to stumble.

And how appropriate that this particular song come on the playlist as I finish--

Jesus, Friend of Sinners
Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours
Yeah
Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours
You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet
'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours
And I was the lost 'cause and I was the outcast
Yeah
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

From <https://www.google.com/search?q=jesus+friend+of+sinners+lyrics&oq=jesus+friend+of+sinners+lyrics&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.9492j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8>

*******

Rom 14:13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 
Rom 14:14  I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 
Rom 14:15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 
Rom 14:16  Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 
Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 
Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 
Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 
Rom 14:20  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 
Rom 14:21  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 
Rom 14:22  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 
Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 


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