Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 2:12-17.
“12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’” Revelation 2:12-17.
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Are we a stepping stone or a stumbling block to others? Do we help them or hinder them?
We see in today’s devotion that there were some in the church in Pergamum who by their false teaching put a stumbling block before others. Verse 14. Today’s devotion gives us opportunity to examine ourselves and to examine our beliefs.
Do our sins become stumbling blocks to others? Are we content to live as we please without considering the impact on others?
Do our beliefs become stumbling blocks to others? Are we content to repeat things that we have heard without cross examining them by Scripture and good Reformed creeds to determine whether or not they are “the gospel truth”?
I pulled out some Scriptures that refer to stumbling blocks, and it was interesting to me to see that iniquity (sin) may become stumbling blocks and that setting up idols in our heart (beliefs) may become stumbling blocks.
““Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord God. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.”
Ezekiel 18:30
“For anyone of the house of Israel or of the immigrants who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and
then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, I the Lord will be brought to answer him in My own person.”
Ezekiel 14:7
“You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the Lord.”
Leviticus 19:14
“But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”
1 Corinthians 8:9
Let us not be stumbling blocks to others. Rather, let us be stepping stones to others.
“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.”
Romans 14:13
“He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!”
Luke 17:1
“The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness,”
Matthew 13:41
There is the “white stone” of eternal glory in today’s Scripture, and we are familiar of the millstone of shame. On the one hand, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.”
Mark 9:42 On the other hand, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give
some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’” Verse 17.
Let us close with this prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father:
“10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.” (Psalm 51:10-13) In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 