The Solution To Our Stumbling Blocks

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(Excerpt from Cheryl Gnagey's Spiritual Healing:  The Surrender That Brings Victory, Chapter 11)

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?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 36

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Day 36:  Cornelius and Peter (Acts 10)

Cornelius believed in the God of Israel even though he was a Gentile centurion.  He was a devout man who not only believed in God but acted on his faith in the things he did.  Cornelius was a compassionate man who always was compelled by his heart to give money to the poor, especially to the Jewish people.  And prayer occurred constantly throughout his day as he depended on and called out to Israel’s God.  He knew that the gods of his people were not THE God!  Now this same God had taken notice of his faith and sent an angel who told Cornelius to send for a man named Peter.

Peter’s recent vision allowed him to believe the men who now stood at his gate, beckoning him to come down and go with them to Cornelius.  God had shown him that He had no partiality to Peter and his people.  From now on all people would have an opportunity to be a child of God.  God told him through the vision that He had cleansed all people.  Cornelius and his people could never again be considered unclean.  Peter left with the men and went straight to Caesarea where Cornelius lived.

Arriving at Cornelius’ home Peter found that many people had gathered, relatives and friends of Cornelius.  What was God’s plan for Cornelius, Peter wondered?  When Cornelius described how he had come to seek Peter out, Peter could see the hand of God at work.  Now, Cornelius anxiously awaited a word from Peter.

Speaking of God’s impartiality, Peter began to lay out the entire plan of God’s salvation:  belief, reverence, and fear followed by a life of godly works that flow from that belief.  He spoke of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection and the peace that is found in a relationship with Him.  Then, as he continued, God’s Holy Spirit descended upon all who were in the room.  Cornelius, all of his family, and the friends he had invited were saved, filled with the Spirit, and baptized.  Cornelius’ faith in the God of the Jews had now become complete as he trusted in Christ, the King of the Jews.  That day Jesus became his Lord and Savior.

Are you living a religious life that includes aspects of faith and good deeds, but living it without Jesus being the Lord and Ruler of your life?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 31

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Day 31:  Mary Magdalene (John 20: 1-18)

Mary’s heart was broken.  How would she ever remove that horrible picture of her Savior’s crucifixion from her mind?  Forever it would be her last memory of Him.  The sorrow she felt seemed to be squeezing the very life out of her.  How could it have come to this?

Not being able to sleep, she did what any true friend would do.  Gathering a few of the other women who had traveled with Jesus while He was ministering, they left before dawn to anoint His body with the spices that they had previously prepared. 

As they arrived at the tomb, Mary saw that it stood opened.  Fearing that her Lord’s body had been stolen or moved, Mary left the others to go and report to Peter and John.  The news brought to them a new despair, and the three ran quickly back to the tomb to see if they could determine what happened.

Arriving ahead of Mary, Peter and John each looked into the tomb.  What were their eyes seeing, they wondered?  Jesus was gone, and only His wrappings remained.  Strangely, the linen cloths He had been wrapped in were neatly folded.  Then, it struck them.   Jesus had raised from the dead!  Leaving Mary outside the tomb, they ran to tell the others.

Weeping and alone, Mary walked back to the entrance of the tomb and looked in.  Looking back, Mary was startled by a Man she didn’t recognize.  Confusion filled her mind as He spoke to her.  Once again, she turned to look at the tomb and the large stone not far away.  Would she ever be able to piece it all together?

“Mary!”  the Man called out.  Turning around, Mary finally recognized Him.  “Teacher!” she exclaimed.  Running to Him, she fell to the ground and kissed and hugged His nail-scarred feet.  Her Savior lived!  He had risen on the third day, just as He said!

What do you do when you feel hopeless?  Where do you look when things don’t make sense?  When your life has been turned upside down, to what do you cling?  Is Jesus your first answer to these questions?