OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 16/09/2013 - OFFENCE PRONE BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OFFENCE PRONE

MEMORY VERSE

 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 18:6

READ

Matthew 18:3-7

Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

MESSAGE

Being a midwife is a highly sensitive and delicate assignment because if care is not taken, instead of facilitating life, the fellow might be facilitating disability or death. If negative impressions are registered in the hearts of young converts, they become almost indelible. Any believer who is supposed to be light but fails to radiate that light will definitely midwife souls in a wrong way. Today, many of us are sending souls thirsty for the Kingdom back to the world because of the love of money. A leader who condones sin and disobedience because the person in question is a financial supporter would find it difficult to uphold the truth of God's Word. As a result of this, he would either have no standard or operate multiple standards. When a financier offends, he will speak of mercy, but if it's another person, he will wield the big stick. Such leaders forget that people, particularly young converts are watching them with keen interest. If converts who were expecting to see God's standard of holiness see something even lower than what they left behind in the world, are we not encouraging them to go back to their vomit?

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 

Matthew 18:6

One very unfortunate thing among Christians is the tendency to forget that every action would bring about some reactions. If people really believe in eternal judgment, they would avoid offending young converts like hell. A young sister gave her life to Christ and found herself in the midst of older believers “ both male and female, they all put in effort to encourage her growth in the faith. But among them was this brother who was supposed to be the head of their Christian group. He sought to be alone with this young sister and to lure her into fleshly lusts. When this became rampant, she began to wonder if fornication was allowed in the Christian faith because she did not know better until God helped her. Are you painting Christ as a devil by your deeds?

PRAYER POINT

Father, let me never be an instrument in bringing down young convert.