A STAGGERING STATEMENT                                      Matthew 18:1-9

but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (v6)

There are Christian leaders who have a knowledge of God but understand little about themselves and their own identity. Sadly, such short sightedness means that our lives are unbalanced and can cause our spiritual downfall. I particularly mention those in Christian leadership because of Jesus’ teaching about the dangers of the blind leading the blind (Matt. 15:14) It is so easy for both to fall into the pit of failure and despair. How many churches have been wounded by leaders who profess to know God but know little or nothing about themselves? And how many young Christians have become disillusioned and then faltered in their faith because of disappointment in a spiritual leader? The importance of this cannot be over-emphasized for as Jesus says in today’s text, it would be better for a person who causes young believers (young in years as well as young in faith) to sin to have a large milestone (notice the emphasis) hung around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. These are strong words, but when you consider the damage that can be caused by a leader who falls into sin, and the wounds he inflicts on those whose faith is just being formed, they are quite understandable. Although I have been focusing on Christian leaders, what I have been saying applies to every Christian. The consequences of seeking to know God but deliberately ignoring a biblical understanding of the self results in broken marriages, family upheavals, and a whole host of other problems. John Calvin’s statement bears repeating: “There is no deep knowing of God without the deep knowing of God.

PRAYER LINE: Father, please help every Christian leader, in knowing themelves as well as knowing You, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. (EDWJ)

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Surrender to God’s love language.