Week 7 Saturday

Watch Your Step

Today’s scripture selection: Romans 13-14

Key verses: Romans 14:13b

 “…make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”

     Awhile back, I almost had a bad fall.  I was leaving our church’s sanctuary, my mind on something other than what I was doing, and I opened the door to an adjoining classroom.  I forgot that it opened onto a stairway.  I took one HUGE step – completely missing the stairway itself – and landed hard on the classroom floor.  Luckily (or should I say by the “grace of God”) I stayed upright.  I was a little shaken and my hip hurt for a couple of days – but I was OK – no broken bones.

     We can take unexpected tumbles like that in life.

We are busy going about our business – possibly with our minds on something a million miles away – and suddenly we are stepping off into the abyss.  Well, even if it’s not that dramatic, we may still find ourselves on our backside wondering what happened and how we landed on the “floor” – so to speak.

We can also, perhaps inadvertently, become stumbling blocks for others as well.  Maybe we give someone wrong advice; maybe we are too quick to criticize or judge; maybe we just don’t take the time to listen and really understand what another is going through.  In lots of ways, we can be the very thing someone stumbles over.

That’s the image the apostle Paul used to warn some believers to “watch their step” spiritually speaking.  He warned them to look out for their own Christian walk, especially before telling a fellow brother or sister in Christ they were doing things all wrong.

It’s good advice.  As Paul would say, “we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”  Which is to say, be careful – don’t be too quick to think you have things all figured out.  Watch your own step – and don’t become an obstacle to someone else on their own walk of faith.

Will we sometimes trip and fall?  Sure.  But hopefully, most days, we will stay on solid ground and right side up.  And that, in itself, is a blessing.

Prayer: Father, help me to walk carefully and thoughtfully, in the path you have made for me.    AMEN.