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Avoid Stumbling Blocks and Be a Blessing to Others – By Father Andrew Bahhi

July 24, 2022
in Feature Articles, The Word
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Sometimes as Christians, whether we do it on purpose or we don’t mean it, the Lord warns against those who are stumbling blocks for others (Luke 17:1). Those people should come back and repent.

“It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come!” – Jesus says.

Why is it a sin to be a stumbling block? It means when someone causes the downfall of another, whether they meant it or not. It happens when we are causing offenses to others.

So as Christians, we are the light of the world, and lead people to come to Jesus. But if we turn off the light, or – worse – we become a stumbling block, then we become woe from the Christ.

The evil one as the serpent was the first stumbling block. But how do we stumble as people in our life? For example, people who are on drugs who seek others to join them. Or, in other words I do something wrong and lead others in the same way. Or others, through social media and TV, they make the sin taste good. Or we change the meaning of sin to say things like “Life is short, enjoy yourself.”

Without Jesus we do not have salvation. Being good and humble is very important. But not being a Christian – you won’t be saved.

The goal of those who are stumbling blocks is to lead the simple people to evil, or prevent those people from the way of the truth. So, our job is to be a good example for people around us.

The good people lead their friends and family members to Jesus. And, as Jesus says, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” Matthew 23:13.

So, we should be very careful because I can be a blessing to my brother, friends or family, or a curse. I can be a tool for the mighty one to be a blessing to others, or I can be a bad tool for the evil one to cause offense to others or be a stumbling block.

Share the light. Don’t cover your light.

Don’t misuse the freedom that God gave us. Use it wisely. I pray that we don’t block others to go to Christ.

May God bless all of us, give us the power to repent and ask Him to be with us. So, when we behave in small and big ways, we always should put God in front of us so we can lead people to God instead of closing the door to their way to God.

Learn more from Father Andrew’s sermon video here.

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