Mark 9:42-49 “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ Everyone will be salted with fire."
In the above scriptures we find Jesus addressing people with attitudes so skewed toward self-interest and sin that they lead God's little ones, his children, to sin. Rather than leading these little ones toward God and his goodness, they are corrupting his children, tempting them away from God into lives of destruction. Jesus says it would be better for such a person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck than to face the judgment of God. This scripture emphatically reveals God does not tolerate interference in his divine work in his sons and daughters. He expects people to help his little ones, not hinder them. As Christians we must take this warning seriously. Yes, we are all God's family, but there are also those in our community of believers who are new in Christ. As mature Christians we should promote the work of God, not hinder or confuse it. Sometimes in this life, as more mature Christians, we let our guard down and start talking as the world, in a faithless, fleshly manner. Rather than exhibiting a strong persevering faith in all circumstances, we let our self-interests and discouragements take the upper hand in our testimony. Our talk becomes worldly, not spiritual as we eyes fix on this earth, rather than on heaven. This kind of life can lead little ones into unbelief if they question the reality of God's work in us. Mature Christians should stay steadfast in all situations. Jesus says, Everyone will be salted with fire. Life's troubles and discouragements test everyone's steadfastness in Christ: we need to persevere in our faith in Jesus Christ and He will strengthen us. We have victory in Christ, not in ourselves. Jesus said, You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16) The new or struggling believers need to see our lights shining brightly for the Lord.
Jesus goes on to say that if you allow the members of your own body to lead you away from God, you should get rid of their actions in your life. This verse does not mean to physically harm yourself, maiming yourself is not the answer to sin. If one did such a thing, he would just walk around with a disabled body, but his heart would still be unchanged. Actions, good or bad, originate in the heart, not in the members of our body. The heart determines our behavior in life, not the members of our bodies: our hands, feet, or eyes. “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’” (Matthew 15:16-20) If we are doing wrong, if we are persuading little ones to do wrong, if we live lives of sin, our actions reflect a heart condition, not a body condition. If the heart is inclined totally towards serving God, we will live for his pleasure; but if live by our senses and not by faith, we will find ourselves living lives that are not for the glory of God, but for ourselves. A life lived for the flesh can lead little ones in the Lord astray and on the path to destruction. When Christians turn toward sin, their actions are not only confusing to the little ones amongst us, but to those who are in the world. An uncertain trumpet call will not rally anyone around us, such a call will not be productive in God's kingdom. People of the world will consider their lives satisfactory because the Christians around them are living the same way they do, leading to deadly consequences for those who do not know Christ as their Savior.
Brothers and sisters around this breakfast table, we are not like those who look back, tarrying by the wayside, unwilling to go forward in Christ because of troubles or faithlessness. No, IN CHRIST, we are made whole, able to face a trial by fire. Because we know this truth, the vicissitudes of life will not distract us from serving God wholeheartedly. We know the Spirit of God dwells within us and keeps us pure and holy. Our ears are tuned to his still, small voice, especially during difficult times. We listen for his support, his encouragement, his guidance. Our ears constantly hear, "Be not afraid, I am with you. Take the next step in life; you are secure in me. I will never leave you nor forsake you." As we hear those words of assurance, we know our lives are his. We live for him. No hand, no foot, no eye will cause us to surrender our lives to another voice, another call. We have a lover, who cared for us to the point of dying on the cross to save our souls from eternal death. Therefore, we fix our hearts on God; nothing else matters to us. Our lives rest in his life. We are at peace with life because He is the Prince of Peace. Little children will be nurtured by our lives for our actions point to Christ and his loving kindness and tender mercies. Today the Lord is speaking, and we hear him say, "Be not afraid: you are living resurrected life. I gave you this life at the cross. The same Spirit that raised me from the dead now dwells in you, and you are alive forevermore. Take that life and rejoice!" That is our hope. Fix your eyes, your attitude, your mind, your strength, your members on Christ, and you will constantly experience new life, eternal life until you come to your heavenly home. Until that day, you will share that life in the body of Christ, working toward unity and wholeness in Christ! Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:14-16) Hallelujah!
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