I’m sure you’ve noticed that life is chock full of hindrances, obstacles, snags, and hurdles. I’d wager that you can easily look back and quickly recall some significantly annoying and troublesome obstacles that you’ve encountered just recently. As a result, of course, we are made to complain and bicker, because it’s frustrating when we’re blind-sided by blockages that check or halt our progress. Ever since the beginning of mankind it’s been this way. Hindrances happen and must be removed or surmounted if we intend to enjoy a God-protected life.
God told Adam, “The ground is cursed because you ate the fruit I commanded you not to eat and now the ground will grow thorns, thistles, and grass burrs and you will struggle to scratch out a living from it.” God told Cain, Adam’s son, after Cain killed Abel, “you are banished from the ground. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you; now you will be a homeless wanderer.” There are all kinds of figurative blockages that cause real and deadly consequences. God had warned Cain before he killed his brother, “You will be accepted if you do what is right. If you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. You must subdue it and be its master.” (Gen. 4:7, NLT)
Jesus told Peter, “Get behind Me Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you don’t have in mind the things of God.” Peter needed to get out of the way, because even if he didn’t intend it, his attitude and actions were opposed to the Lord’s work. Jesus tells us, “What sorrow awaits the world because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” (Mt. 18:7, NLT) We must try to not be a stumbling block to others, and, too…
“Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race set before us.” (Heb. 12:1)
-John Driggers (12/25/2023, V5 #52)
