83
THE KING’S BUSINESS
avoid becoming an occasion o f stumbling to another (1 Cor. 8:9-13; 10:32; Rom. 14:13). The one who causes “a little one” to stumble is especially guilty, and a par ticularly heavy doom awaits him. Any one who is standing between a little child and a definite acceptance and confession o f the Saviour would do well to lay these words to heart. He would better have a heavy mill stone ‘‘hanged about his neck” and be drowned in the- depths of the sea than to do what he is doing. Many a father and mother are causing their little ones to ■stumble by discouraging them from a defi nite acceptance and confession o f Christ. They are also causing them to stumble by their own worldly and sinful example. A terrible woe awaits such parents. Gen. 13:7; 2 Sam. 12:14; Rom. 2:23, 24; 14:21; 15:1-3; 1 Cor. 8:9-13, suggest ways in which we may cause others to stumble. The word “these” implies that there were little children following Jesus at this time. He seems to have always attracted the chil dren. Wednesday, January 26 . Luke 1 7 : 3 , 4 . Each one o f us is primarily responsible for ourselves. Therefore it is to ourselves that w e should first o f all take heed (cf. 1 Tim. 4:16). It is' especially when another trespasses against us that we are more likely to be concerned with his duty than our own (cf. Matt. 18:21, 22).. But then it is that we should especially need to take heed to ourselves. I f another sins, even though the sin be not against us (see R. V .), we should rebuke him. Love for him and interest in his soul demands this o f us (Lev. 19:17). W e should be sure, however, that we do it in a spirit o f meekness (2 Tim. 2:25, 26). It is not enough that we avoid causing others to stumble, w e should endeavor to reclaim those whom some one else has caused to stumble. I f the offender heeds our rebuke and repents we have a further duty, viz., to “ forgive." The word translated “ forgive” means to “ dismiss,” or “send away,” and the thought is that we are to dismiss his sin from our mind and treat him as if he had never committed it.
It is thus God deals with us (cf. Isa. 38:17; 43:25; Micah 7:19; Ps. 103:12). True forgiving involves forgetting. There should be no limit to our forgiveness, even though one repeats the sin over and over again we should never be discouraged. Every time he comes saying, “I repent,” we should for give without stopping to ask whether he really means it and is profoundly sincere. W e may well rejoice over this command, for if God demands it o f us we may confi dently expect He will act the same way in The Apostles were staggered at the thought that they must forgive so often, and in their consciousness o f their own inability to do so they cried, “Lord, increase our faith.” There was, though they did not realize it, a recognition o f Jesus’ deity in their mode o f address and the prayer they offered to Him, for God alone can increase faith. He will increase our faith if we sincerely cry to Him to do it (Mark 9 :24-27). The Apostles did not realize how great a request they were making in ask ing for an increase o f faith and so the Lord set forth the mighty power of' faith: nothing is impossible to Him. Faith, even if it is as small and apparently insignificant as a grain o f mustard seed, has a tremend ous power o f growth and accomplishment in it (cf. Matt. 13:31, 32), because it links us* on to Omnipotence. Real faith can do anything that God can do. In the parable that follows, our Lord does not set forth the way in which God treats His servants, for He does thank and reward them for the smallest service (Matt. 25:21, 23; 10:42), neither does it set forth the way in which we ought to treat a servant, but only what a servant has a right to expect. The word “ servant” means literally “slave,” the servant who is his: master’s property: we are not hired servants, but the purchased property o f Him whom we serve, purchased by Him at enormous cost (1 Peter 1 :18 19 • 1 Cor. 6:20). We have no rights, we have no claims whatever upon God: even though we have ploughed all day, we have only His dealings with us. Thursday, January 27 . Luke 1 7 : 5 - 10 .
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online