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Have you ever felt that you may said or done something, that could cause someone to stumble in their faith?

When a Christian inadvertently causes someone to "stumble", the one who stumbles can often be saved from a fatal injury. But it is almost always difficult. There are usually so many issues at play, and as many variables as there are personalities. However, they can often be picked up gently, retrieved, repaired and saved from their fall.

There is also a frightening statement by Jesus:

" But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea. However, there is remedy not only for one who is caused to stumble, but also forgiveness for the one who caused the stumble." - Matthew 18:6; 18:8-10 (AMP)

The Bible refers in Revelation 20 to the judgment when every person who has ever been born will be resurrected and judged: "And the sea delivered up the dead who were in it, death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) surrendered the dead in them, and all were tried and their cases determined by what they had done [according to their motives, aims, and works]." - Revelation 20:13.

A little later He says: "Woe to the world for such temptations to sin and influences to do wrong! It is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the person on whose account or by whom the temptation comes!" - Matthew 18:7.

Jesus is addressing those in the world - those who are not interested in whether a Christian looses faith, or falters and stumbles into sin, or abandons their belief and faith in Jesus.

There is always forgiveness for Christians who confess offenses done to others. Sometimes, we just do not know what influence we may have had or be having on others, even when we are striving to do our best not to offend, hurt or injure the weak conscience, or the lack of understanding of another. If we will pray to always be sensitive to other's sensitivities, and humbly seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are always under the shield of Christ's blood.

Also, some who stumble may be in one of the categories that Jesus mentions in the parable of the sower (Mark 4:2-9). The seed that you are sowing by the words and actions of your life, may only result in temporary acceptance, and someone may stumble due to no fault of our own. You do not always understand what soil the seed fell on. They will be judged by a different standard. - a standard of judgment that we may not understand until the day of judgment. Some will "stumble" in some ways and for some reasons beyond our influence. We did not cause them to stumble - they stumbled over their own issues.

If we have contributed in some way to their condition, we need to deeply repent when made aware of a wrong impression by which we have caused someone to stumble, and strive to understand and lift them up, and look for an opportunity to repair the injury that we may have caused. Jesus knows all things, and will abundantly pardon us, and is fully able to ultimately save the one we may have caused to stumble.

We can be thankful that, along with a very frightening warning in the Bible, there is also one of the most comforting scripture in the Bible:

"But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].." - 1 John 1:7-9 (AMP)

"God's Words For US" from Cecelia Lester

Yahweh Shammah,