Wednesday the 25th

Matthew 18: ⁷"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

 

 

We are responsible for our own actions, we all know that, and we all get that. We all know that there is evil in the world, I do not think there is anyone out there that would contest that fact. However are we aware that to some degree we are responsible for the actions of those that share in our lives? We are…that is what Christ is telling us. A thief can repent for their sins, but if the thief teaches another person to steal, they cannot repent for their students sins. Each of us might walk right up to the line of morality and successfully pull away, but we have no control if we take someone with us, and they cross that line. The choices we make, the path that we walk will at sometime or another be an instruction manual for someone else…..so what are we teaching? Our actions, even though we might not realize it, are often tied to another persons actions. What we say is OK the next person might take a step further, and cross into sin. This is why I talk so much about love, about forgiveness, about compassion. When we are living like Christ, when we are living our lives trying to help others, then our focus will be on helping our fellow man / woman improve their lives. How did you get to where you are today? What have you shown others in the past that you thought was acceptable? Are you living your life today thinking that it’s OK for me, but no one else should do this? We cannot wear a mask during the week  then try and show our real faces on Sunday morning. The people around us will not see the person on Sunday, they will remember, and emulate the person they see during the week. Where are you leading those around you? What are you teaching the world? A hard lesson for me to learn was that I can’t break the rules then explain that it was ok that one time, I can’t live my life as if nothing matters, then expect those around me to understand that God is all that matters. There will always be sin in this world, there will always be temptation, this is after all the devil’s playground. It comes down to the question of who’s team are you on? …..and there really is no gray area….we choose to be a teacher of sin, or a teacher of the Lord. The ripples of our actions reach well beyond our reach.

 

God Bless,

Brian