Millstones Are Heavy…..

magine you’re on a boat, and you happen to fall over board. As you desperately try to swim back, you grab the chain to the anchor to pull yourself in. All of the sudden your hand gets caught in the chain and it begins to pull you under. You’re holding your breath as you struggle to get free as you continue to spiral down to the bottom of the lake. It’s a scary thought. But what’s even scarier, is the fact that Jesus said that if we cause people to stumble in their faith, we are “better off” having a millstone tied around our neck and being drowned in the depths of the sea. Wow!!! “Better Off”, really? The point here is that we need to be very cognizant of our influence on others, especially children. When our agenda leaves a bad impression on others, especially if it concerns doctrinal truths, we need to be aware of our presentation, and change our approach. Some times it’s just better to keep our mouth shut, than open it and lead someone away from Jesus. We may speak truth, but not do it in a way that turns honest, genuine thinkers down the wrong path, all because of “our way” of presenting it. The most obvious way is being “religious”. When we make our convictions a burden to others, everyone loses. Millstones are heavy.

1 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”2 Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. 3 Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming Me.6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of My heavenly Father. Matthew 18:1-10