Matthew 18:7-9

Jesus Warns Against Causing Children to Sin

8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.

9 "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.

10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

11 ["For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]

Ninety-nine Plus One

12 "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?

13 "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.

14 "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Causing Children and Young Christians to Sin

We sometimes take living a Christian life for granted never realizing that the younger generation is watching our words and actions.

 

For instance, if we sit in the pew on Sunday, listen to the message, and then cause a scene or gossip about other church members in the parking lot, they are watching closely and learning how to behave as Christians.

 

Frightening, isn't it? As I write this I know in my heart that I'm sometimes guilty of this very thing. Well, maybe I don't cause a scene in the parking lot but I don't always act as a brother in Christ should act.

 

Children pick up on everything. Don't let them fool you. They are much more intelligent than the credit we give them. In their mind, when we slip and slide ( or stumble according to Jesus ) they begin to see this as acceptable behavior and will mimic our actions.

 

In other words, we have just taught them to sin!

 

Jesus says it's better to come to heaven lame than to walk into hell on our two good legs.

 

Belittlement

 

Another way to teach children to sin is to belittle them or ignore them. Would you ignore your friend when he or she speaks to you? Of course not. Neither should we ignore children when they come to us for answers.

 

Finally, Jesus explains how important every child is and how we should take steps to help any one of them who stumbles or strays away. It is our duty as Christians to try to mimic the concern God has for every child.

 

Christ was a very busy man during His three short years of ministry but He always took time out to take in the little children. Are we busier than Jesus? If so, we need to rearrange our priorities when it comes to our own children.

 

Yes, our schedules are hectic but five or ten minutes might make a huge difference in someone's life, maybe even ours.

 

 

 

Love in Christ

- Bob

Matthew 18:1-6 - Who is the Greatest Disciple? - The disciples were caught up in trying to make a high place for themselves in the kingdom of heaven and wanted Jesus to tell them who would have the most power. The answer Christ gave was one they did not expect, nor would we.