Falling Down
Have you ever been that person? You know the one who tripped in front of a group of people and fell flat of your face? Everyone laughing. Embarrasment! Most likely we all have done it at one point or another. Statistically we are bound to. Think about how many steps we take in our lifetime. We are bound to have a couple of missteps, step on shaky ground, or trip on something in the way. And we are most likely going to witness some other people when they stumble.
Now that is a physical reality, but I think it is also applicable to our faith. The question is not if we will stumble, but when. The questionis not if our friends will stumble, but when. Think about that feeling of shock as you realized you hit the ground when you were walking. Think about the shock and how it rocked your world when someone you know stumbled spiritually.
Dont be surprised if your spiritual stumbles occur much the same way. I know we think that keep our focus hard and straight and we will never stumble, but really, does that work when you are walking? No! The reality is we have to look all around. Keep our eyes open for anything that might trip us up. Even friends can be a trip up!
So now consider that, but one more thing also. Someone desires to trip you! Think about how difficult it is when someone is trying to trip you, make you stumble!
Walk carefully today!
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Ecclesiastes 4:10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Proverbs 24:16 or though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
Proverbs 24:17-18 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.
