Stumbling Blocks
As soon as I placed wheels on my feet I realised how many bumps and grooves there were on the ground’s surface. All these bumps and grooves did not stop me from rollerblading, they just made the learning more challenging.
2 Corinthians 6.3-7.1
Reference: v. 6.3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. (NIV Bible)
Explore: Nine years ago I decided to learn how to rollerblade. As I am reasonably balance-challenged this was always going to be an eventful endeavour. It’s one thing to watch a child learn something new, but it’s a totally different experience when you see a grown adult wobbling and flapping along the footpath on wheels! I would practice on the path that ran behind our house. I use to walk along there all the time and it seemed fine. But as soon as I placed wheels on my feet I realised how many bumps and grooves there were on the ground’s surface. All these bumps and grooves did not stop me from rollerblading, they just made the learning more challenging.
A stumbling block has the same effect. While it may make progress more challenging, there are ways of getting around it, through it or over it.
Application: Our purpose as a Christian is not to make it more difficult for people to connect with God but to make Him more accessible. There are always stumbling blocks in our way: busyness, popularity, peer pressure, laziness etc. The path to following Jesus can often be a difficult one. So it is important that we don’t create more blocks for others to connect with Christ. Let us start opening the doors and breaking down the walls so that people can experience God’s love and acceptance. If we are open and loving towards our neighbours then maybe they will desire to experience an even greater love.
Prayer: Lord, no matter how hard we try, there are always stumbling blocks in our way. May we persevere with confidence, knowing that you will always be there to help us through the difficult times. Amen.
What are some of the stumbling blocks you feel you are dealing with at the moment? Do you see stumbling blocks in other people’s lives?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.