[Jesus continued.] “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!”
(Matthew 18:6-7 NIV)
Jesus is telling us to be sensitive to the vulnerability of others, especially those among us who are weak, forgotten, and neglected. Of course, he didn’t just preach it; he lived it. Extreme measures are to be used to keep from causing one of these “little ones” to stumble and fall. For Jesus and his followers, it is a very serious and horrific matter to cause the sinful downfall of another.
His language is extreme. His warning is heartfelt. The “little ones” among us are extremely valuable to him and should be to us. It would be better to be drowned in the sea than to face Jesus having caused another to fall. Jesus cares deeply about the lost and died to redeem us. He surely doesn’t want us contributing to others’ losing their way.
Today’s Prayer: Father, use me redemptively to help bring others back to you and to be careful about my influence. I don’t want to lead others astray by my actions or by my words. Give me an undivided heart, a clear witness reflecting your character, and a deeper concern for those my actions may impact. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
