Stumbling on God's Word

Like a fool, or some geriatric determined to remain in his own home when he needs supported living, I fell down stairs last week. Slumped at the bottom, I silently pondered my situation, assessing what had been broken. It sometimes takes pain a few seconds to register but, thank God, no injuries were sustained. The same cannot be said for the crockery I was carrying, with two dishes and a plate broken into a dozen pieces (two more survived unharmed, like their bearer). Annoyed with myself, I examined what it was that caused me to tumble. It was the Bible.

I had left it on the fifth stair earlier in the evening to remind myself to take it up. I had my hands full on the subsequent ascension, so I had ignored it; on my return journey some hours later, I had forgotten it. Being that leather-bound, pulpit edition from which I preach, it had provided me with a loose footing, smoothly sliding off the stair with my body weight upon it. Thankfully, it too was unscathed, save a tear on the page of a minor prophet's concluding admonition.

Had I diligently placed the scriptures on my desk or in my lap where they belong, I would be three plates better off and would not have looked so foolish, had anyone been present to see it. Upon God’s word I slipped and stumbled. Although it is fairly easy to learn from this mistake and ensure it does not happen again, slipping and stumbling in our spiritual lives is a task demanding greater care. Says the psalmist in 119:165:

Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.

The Lord Jesus remarked in Mark 4:17b:

… Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

Peter comments in 1:2:8-9

“A stone of stumbling

And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Asaph writes in Psalm 73:2-3, 1:

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

My steps had nearly slipped.

For I was envious of the boastful,

When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Having previously claimed:

Truly God is good to Israel,

To such as are pure in heart.

Therefore, observe:

Following Jesus’ words may cause troubles, but His words also cause us to remain faithful and steady.

Loving God’s word, rather than laying it down or stepping over it, keeps us balanced and upright.

When we take our eyes off God’s word, and instead ponder the wicked, we may slip and backslide.

I have learned my lesson. Have you learned yours?

All Bible citations are from the New King James Version.