Don't Stumble

I have told you these things so that you won't abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. John 16:1-3

Another translation starts this passage saying…"These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling." John 16:1 NASB. Stumbling. I have fallen…just stumbled and landed on the ground a couple of times lately in my yard. Once I was sweeping leaves and the other time trying to walk around some bags of leaves and trash…and then decided to back up and find another way—but I tripped, stumbled, and fell. Kerplank! On my bottom. Ouch! That is an example of a physical stumble—but do we fall or stumble spiritually? The New Living Translation gives a suggestion of “abandoning” your faith. That would be a travesty. Jesus told His disciples…I have told you these things. What things? Always look back at the verses or thoughts prior to “these things” or “therefore” statements. I think Jesus was reminding His disciples that He loved them and that they were going to have to go through some hard times, some persecution because of their love for Him. The world hates them, but God was going to send the Holy Spirit to be their helper and comforter. That promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled at Pentecost.

Pelican on the Columbia River

Don't fly away...and abandon your faith.

We should accept the same encouragement from Jesus’ teaching. Don’t abandon your faith when you feel the world hates you. Hate is an emotion that “kills” a person’s character. Actually, if you look at it closely, it can damage both the person feeling the hate and the one to whom it is directed. Hate ruins relationships...and can turn inward in the person feeling that hate and anger resulting in sickness as the emotions stress that person’s internal organs. Of course, there are wrinkles that form, too, from the scowling face muscles. The person being hated may not even be distressed by the anger, but it will eat that hater alive. Jesus had already taught His disciples a very good lesson.

But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. Luke 6:27-28 NLT

For those who have been physically killed by the hate and anger of the unrighteous person, like those people last week in a Texas church, may God bless and comfort their families and friends. Jesus told us that the world is going to hate us. Don’t allow that hate to cause you to abandon your faith. 

Prayer ~ Jesus, We know that You love us. God loved us so much that He sent You, His one and only Son, that whoever believes in You will have eternal life. God sent You into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through You. (From John 3:16-17.) Thank You, Jesus, for Your love and for Your obedience to the Father.

Daily Bible Reading: Matthew 27; Mark 15

© 2017 Text and Photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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