Today's Passage - Luke 17:1-4

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 17:1-4   Jesus said to his disciples: 'Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.  It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.  So watch yourselves.  If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, "I repent," forgive him.'   The Lord said here that those who cause people to sin are in trouble, and this is an important reminder for every Christian.  After we become Christians for a while, we often don't think about this issue, thinking that while pastors need to bear good witness, it doesn't matter so much to us.  In fact, many people in the church have stumbled because of words or behavior of other believers.   Back in the university days, I often chatted about all kinds of things with classmates.  One time a classmate told me: There's something special about it, because it seems like while others can do wrong, you somehow cannot do wrong.  I was surprised by his words, and he went on to say "that's because you are a Christian!"  I suddenly realized that Christians bear a heavy responsibility, for there are hundreds of eyes watching our life and behavior, so how can we not be watchful and cautious?  Just like how you closely examine your pastors, hundreds of eyes around you are also closely examining you.   On the other hand, Christians don't need to accuse each other, blaming on others for stumbling people.  If you feel someone has caused you to stumble, you may gently communicate with the person, since in most cases the person would not caused you to stumble intentionally.   Sometimes it's an inadvertent remark, their personality, or just their own habits and ways.  Therefore, Lord has admonished us here to gently communicate, and more important to have an attitude of forgiveness and acceptance.  Because if you are demanding on others, others will be demanding on you; if you want others to repent, others would want you to repent too.  If everyone is self-righteous and self-centered, then what is the difference between believers and non-believers?  The essence of the Gospel of Christ is to forgive, and the Lord said here that if one sinned against you seven times a day, you will forgive him seven times a day.  In other word, it's a ever-patient and always-kind love that comes from the Lord.  Only that kind of love can transform a person and bring his heart back to God.    Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, please help us to be delivered from our sinful words, and bless our months so that we can be filled with grace and healing.  May the Lord keep our heart and mind, as well as our behavior in life, so that we would cause no one to stumble, and please give us the spirit of forgiveness so that we can forgive the sins others have committed against us.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!