Yesterday I promised you a story from the Bible that would be an example of a stumbling block, to help us see the difference between a sin and an encumbrance. The story is found in Matthew 16. Let it inspire you to overcome both!
". . . Jesus had just told the disciples of the real events that were about to happen in Jerusalem. Jesus' prediction of His death gave them more detail than had been disclosed during their previous discussions. Peter couldn't handle the truth he had just heard. Jesus told them that He was about to die, and Peter's rebuke was strong. But it was filled with adoration for his Master. In his blurting sort of way, Peter boldly told Jesus that His death would never happen! Jesus immediately turned to address Peter, saying, 'Get behind Me, Satan!' (Matthew 16:23). Jesus understood that the thoughts of Peter had been infiltrated by the enemy. So Jesus said, 'You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.' (Matthew 16:23).
You see, your own thoughts or actions that are self-absorbed, self-centered, and self-focused can just as easily be a stumbling block to you or to someone else. They are flesh-fed thoughts, and satan delights in such thoughts, for they do not consider the thoughts or plans of God. If you struggle with these kinds of encumbrances, your battle plan to overcome them is found in the verses that follow the account of Peter's wrong thought processes.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.' (Matthew 16:24)
This is the answer not only to self-centered thinking or activities but also for every sin you will battle. We must learn to simply tell our flesh 'no!' By denying ourselves what our flesh wants, we 'take up our cross,' for that is what Jesus did when He clearly understood what His Father's will was. If we tell ourselves 'no,' and then obey what God says, in any situation, then we are following Him in that moment. Those things that encumber us are our stumbling blocks, and they often appear to be innocent thoughts or activities that seem right, on the surface. But we still will trip over them.
What thought or activity is currently encumbering your walk?
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