By Pastor John Bingham
James 3:2, “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”
When Christ was on the earth, He taught His disciples about the danger of being the source of offenses. He stated, “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea” (Mark 9:42). To offend is to make a stumbling block or to impede someone’s way.
Our lives can be an impediment to people or they can be a help so that people desire to come to Christ. When our words and our actions align, then we are helping people desire the Gospel, and helping people to be transformed by Christ. But a life of hypocrisy is a stumbling block to the lost. When our actions don’t align with our belief system, it creates an inconsistency that many people will struggle to rectify in their mind. Some may thin, “How can God be a loving God, when Christians are so mean?” These inconsistencies make it difficult for people to truly trust in the Lord.
When our lives align with our belief system, then our actions reinforce our words to the people around us. As the song says, “Our walk talks, and our talk talks, but our walk talks the loudest.” When our walk and our talk follow and demonstrate Christ, it helps to create a hunger for Christ in the lives of the lost and leads to a greater opportunity for others to be saved. May our lives be lived in such a way that others desire Christ more.
Comments