Mark 9:42
If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.
Who could you be keeping out of Heaven? You ever thought of that. Lots of people believe there's someone out there who wishes them evil. If someone should ask them who their enemy is, they unconsciously picture someone in mind. Do you know someone also pictures you whenever they think of an enemy?
In the above verse, we are told no to cause children to stumble in the Lord. Children here doesn't mean only those young in age, but it could also mean those young in faith. Be cautious that you don't become a stumbling block to someone. One mean look, one little comment, one small remark, that's all it takes. You don't need to do something extraordinary to cause someone to stumble.
Say what you mean and do what you say. If you say you are Christ-like/Christian, then act like one. Don't be the reason someone looses faith, whether young or old for the bible says it would have been better if a large rock was hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. Don't even know if that's death by hanging or drowning.
In as much as you have mental pictures of people as enemies, or haters, make sure you aren't someone's mental picture. You might offend people along the way, but when you do, you should know it, and you should act on it.To err is human, and to forgive is divine. Once you speak about your offence with the person, you could both move on from there.
As a Christian, don't be the reason someone says, I'm glad that I'm not a Christian. Your life should be the first testimony to children and the young in faith. Should anyone backslide because of you, whether you know it or not, woe to you. Life your life like Christ s watching you every second. If you wouldn't do it in front of Christ, then don't do it in the dark.
