Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, whoever does not believe will be condemned.”  Mark 16:15-16 HCSB

Here in Louisiana we get a lot of rain. It is raining as I write this, as a matter of fact. Wet, muddy ground is something that we deal with on a regular basis. It’s a good idea to have a sidewalk if you don’t want to bog in mud when you walk outside. Some people make sidewalks from pavers or stepping stones. These are very helpful as it allows you to walk from one spot to the other without getting your feet all muddy. These stepping stones generally follow a particular path. They get you from one point to another.

Yesterday our scripture passage was Matthew 18 which told us that we must be like a kid again to enter into the kingdom of heaven, but then it went on to say that anyone who causes the downfall of a little one that believes in God, or other passages say a stumbling block, was in for some serious trouble.

So I ask you today if you were to be totally honest, would you consider yourself to be a stepping stone or a stumbling block? Are you a smooth pathway that leads others to Christ or do you tend to distract them away from Him? Now before you answer, I want you to give serious consideration to several things. Do you attend church on a regular basis? Are you involved with your church? Do you attend activities besides Sunday morning service? Do you attend Sunday School and banquets and work days and things like that? If you answered yes to these questions, good. You are off to a good start.

Now the other thing I want you to consider is your behavior outside of church. Are you Christ focused when you are away from the church? Could a person listen to the way you talk to others and the words you use to determine that you are a Christ follower? Does how you treat others set a good example? Does how you live your life show that you obey God’s commands? This is how we can be used as a stepping stone to lead others to Christ. Remember that your actions speak louder than your words. I believe that there is no higher compliment that we could be paid than for someone to come to us and ask us about our life in Christ. When someone can see the life that we have found in Him and know that they want what we have, we are being used as a stepping stone.

But, on the contrary, when people see us mistreating others, using God’s name in vain or speaking profanities, telling dirty jokes or looking at porn, making drunken fools of ourselves Saturday night and then warming a church pew on Sunday, all they see is a hypocrite. Why on earth would they want what you have? Oh, and if they do want what you have, congratulations, you have just become a stumbling block. Scripture tells us that when this happens it would be better for you if a millstone were tied around your neck and you were drowned in the sea (Matthew 18:6).

If you are reading this and you are not a Christian, but are tired of being sick and tired, then look for the light in the darkness. Look for that person that exhibits good, Christian character and ask them to help you. Let them be your stepping stone to a relationship with your Lord and Savior. Go to a good, Bible teaching church. Speak to a pastor.

But, sadly, more and more our world is being filled with stumbling blocks. But don’t you worry about that because Psalm 91:11 tells us that if we choose to dwell with God that He will give His angels charge over you and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. God can protect us from stumbling blocks if we choose to live in His protective realm.

Now going back to your behavior outside of church. Know that your enemies are watching you and hoping you will fail so that they will have proof that you are a hypocrite. There are those that look up to you that do what you do. And yes, even adults tend to mimic those that they admire. If you live like the devil Monday through Saturday know that you are destroying your witness. Know that you are a stumbling block to those that need to know the Lord. We are commanded to lead others to Christ, not turn them away.

I encourage you to go forth and proclaim the gospel. If you are the shy type, don’t worry you won’t have to go out and preach in the town square. You only need to be sure that your behavior glorifies God. It is our job to proclaim the gospel. What people do with it is up to them.

I’m not here to put anyone down, I just wanted us all to think about how we behave when we are not in church. If we have some behavior that can be used as a stumbling block then we need to change it right away. I spent years as a stumbling block. That didn’t work out so well. We must be stepping stones that lead others down a smooth pathway into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what Christ commands us to do. So I urge you to be the stepping stone that leads others to Christ today.

Have a great day!