"Do you not fear
God too much to lay a stumbling block for men to break their necks over?
We can pave a way
for the salvation of the ungodly by letting them see the truth and ways of God
in our love toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.
People are afraid
to live in a place haunted with evil spirits. But can hell itself possibly
house anything worse than the spirit of division? Christians, agree with one
another, and your numbers will increase. The early Christians continued
"daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to
house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart" Acts
2:46. And notice what followed their fellowship-- they had "favor with all
the people and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved"
(v. 47).
The world was such
a stranger to real love that it was probably amused at first and then curious
as to what kind of heavenly doctrine could soften men's hearts, plane their
rugged natures, and join them into this family of love. And these things helped
to persuade many out of the world and into the church. But tragically, the gold
dulled-- I mean, peace among the Christians faded-- and gaping holes were seen
in the church. These flaws were so obvious that passers-by were afraid to enter
it. Here and there Gentiles were almost persuaded to embrace the Jewish
religion, but became cautious because of the divisions and offenses embedded in
it.
O Christian, do
not let such sins as divisions and strifes hardened your life! Do you not fear
God too much to lay a stumbling block for men to break their necks over? To
roll the stone over a sinner's grave and seal him down in it? Well, even as you
keep yourself free of the blood of those who die in their sin, be careful not
to contribute to the hardening of impenitent souls through dissensions in the
body of Christ.”
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete
Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell.
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