“It seems,” Stan mentioned one morning during breakfast, “that just about everything I focus on in the Bible reminds me of something or someone. It happened again earlier this morning in my journaling time.”
“What were you focusing on?”
“Where Jesus said that those who don’t stumble over Him are blessed.”
“Those who don’t stumble over Jesus are blessed? What’d that remind you about?”
“It reminded me of a guy I knew back where I lived before moving here,” Stan replied. “I’m afraid he not only stumbled over Jesus, he may have stumbled into eternity to be separated from God forever.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He just couldn’t get over something else Jesus said,” Stan said. “He kept stumbling over it and, while I can’t know for certain until I get there, my best guess is that he’s not in God’s eternal presence.”
“What was he stumbling over?”
“That Jesus is the only way to the Father,” Stan replied. “This guy is gone now, but while he was here, he stumbled over what Jesus said. He couldn’t and, as far as I know, didn’t accept it as true. As a result, he probably stumbled into Satan’s eternal presence rather than God’s because he wasn’t blessed by not stumbling over Jesus.”
__________________________________
Bible verses to consider:
And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me. Matthew 11:6.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. John 14:6.
And they took offense at Him, . . . . Matthew 13:57. Also see Mark 6:3.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus as the way to you for all of eternity beginning here. Thank you for those who told me the truth so I could accept it and not stumble into eternity separated from you forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t tell others about Jesus being the only way to you so they can accept it and not stumble into eternity being separated from you. Help me follow every step of your lead in helping others know the truth so they will be blessed by not stumbling over Jesus. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in His precious name. Amen.
Think on this: Do you know you will not stumble into eternity to be separated from God because you have accepted His provision of life eternally with Him, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to stumble over His provision? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with helping others be blessed by not stumbling over Jesus? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to not stumble over Jesus, as well as what does He know you need to help others not stumble over Jesus? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, and journaling to see what He knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to being part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?