The Stumbling Stone

May 08, 2000

When people are walking in darkness, they cannot see where they are going.  They can’t see the things that are making them trip.  They can’t see the stumbling blocks in their life and that those things are messing up their walk through life.

We, as Christians, when we are enlightened by the Word of God can see those stumbling blocks.  We may be able to clearly see those things in other’s lives if we are not walking in darkness ourselves.

But if we try and explain to a person that they have stumbling blocks in their life, if we try and explain and describe the sin or the weights that are keeping them from enjoying life the way God intends, then that person walking in darkness may just think we are being critical of their life. They can’t see the stones that are making them trip so they may just think you are criticizing them.  Or they may think that you are off the wall and just plain wrong. (Like the Pharisees; see John 9:39-41 and John 8:33).

What we need to do is help them turn on the light.  Help them to allow the light of the Word to shine in their lives so that they themselves can see.  Because if they can’t see for themselves the things God is trying to show them, you won’t be able to, no matter how much you try and describe the stones, the sin, or the weight in their life.

In reality, the stone that they trip over is not sin itself.

"...Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded.  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." 1 Peter 2:6-8

..."Stumble at the word..." The Lord, the Rock, will get right in people’s paths, they’re tripping all over Him.  He’s doing it because He loves them and He’s trying to get them to see that they need to turn on the light.  That doesn’t mean He brings evil in a person’s life because Jesus said He came to give life and life abundantly.  The thief is the one who kills, steals and destroys, not Jesus.  But He brings the Word of God!  They stumble at the Word.  The Word of God is the stone.  When they hear the Word it becomes a stumbling block if they are disobedient. (I say ‘they’ but it can mean ‘us’ too!)

You bring the Word of God into someone’s life not by pointing fingers and arguing the Bible with them, but by living it out before them in your life. When people see your obedience to the Word and the success God brings in your life then they can see life lived the way God intends.  By the triumph in our life the fragrance of the knowledge of God is made manifest, (see 2 Corinthians 2:14).

Don’t be judgmental.  Don’t be critical.   Don’t sit there and describe their sin to them and tell them what it looks like and how big it is and how they can avoid tripping over it.  Don’t get them dependent on you to tell them where the sin is in their life.  Get them to turn on the light!  The entrance of God’s Word brings light, (Psalm 119:130).   Teach them to depend on Him for guidance and direction.  You, he and God will all be much happier that way.

God Bless you and have a great day!