Matthew 18:6 English Standard Version (ESV) but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,^{[cause to stumble]} it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

I added the footnotes to the word sin from the source quoted. Stumbles can be something less that an overt sin but should still be avoided. When we know of dangers we want to cry out to be careful and leave it up to the hearer to heed our warning.

What if we have stumbled in our studies and do not know it? It is likely we will lead others along that same treacherous path without seeing the danger. This is why discussion groups are excellent opportunities to test your understanding of God’s word.

We must not allow ourselves to stay silent in fear of being wrong. If we are wrong it is best to correct the error than to suffer in silence. Even those of us that have studied the words for decades can and do make mistakes. None of us are perfect. We can even be right and be wrong in how we express ourselves. Communication skills are not all equal.

Being blunt can often lead to others tuning out anything that we might offer. A scalpel may cut deep but the sledgehammer does more damage.

James has warned us in chapter 3 of his letter that the tongue can do great harm. So can the written word. The written word cannot convey facial expressions and body language. We humans communicate in ways that are more complicated than just words. I heed what James said in his opening line in chapter 3.

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” ESV

You are not my students, just my readers.

Isaiah 29:13-14 English Standard Version

¹³ And the Lord said: Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
¹⁴ therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

I wanted to say something and the words would not come. I wanted others to understand what I understand. The Lord had other plans and my thoughts no longer have any value. Things are hidden from me, just as His Word says.

What is the Lord saying to you? We bring you passages and expect the reader to get our message and that is vanity of vanities. What the Lord is saying to you in any passage is the only thing that matters.

To tell you what these passages mean to me only reveals my mind and not the Lords. I do not want to become one who cries out “Listen to me!” My time in the world will come to an end and my thoughts will perish along with me.

Matthew 24:35 English Standard Version (ESV) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Those are His Words, not mine. The only lasting impression on us is what the Lord impresses on us.

This happened to me today because I set my mind on the world and my plans first. I allowed the Word of the Lord to take second place.

This is what happens when the Lord is not given first priority in our hearts. We begin to lose it.