«If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned at the bottom of the sea » (Matthew 18:6, ISV).
TEARS OF GRIEF FLOWED from the distressed face of a young mother because of her sad situation: her three children would not stop fighting day or night. Faced with such a discouraging daily sight, she began to shout at them, threaten them, and even hit them. It seemed to her that there was no other way to control that reality.
One day, after praying and begging God to help her, she opened the Bible and found the words said by Jesus: «If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned at the bottom of the sea» (Matthew 18:6, ISV). She felt that it applied to her in her relationship with her little ones; she felt that with her shouts, threats, and aggression, she herself was pushing them to greater rebellion, greater disobedience, and greater sin. She felt that her example as a mother was putting at risk the faith of her children in the God of heaven. Reading this verse was the wake-up call she needed for a complete change of attitude. She strengthened herself with the power of the Holy Spirit and changed the course of her children’s upbringing.
Being a mature Christian comes with certain responsibilities toward those who are weaker; among them, of course, are children—our own and those of others. However, we are also responsible for not being a spiritual stumbling block for any other person, at least in the measure that we are able to avoid it. «How terrible it will be for that person who causes someone to sin! So if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life injured or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell fire» (verses 7—9, ISV).
Salvation and eternal life (ours and others’) are more valuable than the most valuable thing we have at the physical or material level.
#WomensDevotional
#RadioJovenAdventista
#MeditacionesDiarias
Take From: Daily Devotions for Women’s 2020
«One Day at a Time»
From: Patricia Muñoz Bertozzi
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Magda Sanz T
