OFFENSIVE FOOD

MEMORISE: 'But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkers thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.' (Rom14: 15)
READ: Romans 14:13-15

The average Christian is infectious. The scriptures say you are the salt of the earth. Mostly unnoticed observers are carefully watching what you do,, and it will have a definite impact upon them, either for good or bad, depending on whether your actions are positive or negative.

As you grow in the Lord and attain levels of leadership, your power of influence increases. The higher you go, the greater you're level of influence over those under you. You have to be extremely careful about what you do, where and how. This is why James 3:1-2 warns teachers to be very careful about what they teach their students. A single error from one teacher can be passed on to 10 or 20 students and from there to 100 or 200 more, and so goes the chain.

This shows that a little false doctrine can have a devastating effect on a multitude. Yet the blood of those who respond to that false teaching may be on the head of the teacher. You have to take pains to know your subject before you pass it on. For instance, accepting and teaching that 'nobody knows who will go to heaven: just do you're best and leave the rest' will make your hearers focus on their good works and salvation by works. They will be unable to reach heaven, because it is by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus that we are saved.

All your actions are equally important. The Church has all kinds of people and believers at different levels of growth, knowledge and understanding. Some are struggling with certain sins. All they are looking for is some leader who will do a similar thing and therefore become the excuse for their own evil. If a young convert sees you taking wine, he may not care to know whether it is alcoholic or not. That might just be his excuse for returning to drunkenness. As a result, we ought to be careful what we say or do. We have to be careful about the example we give to others - so that we do not end up giving poisoned food to those under us, misleading them in the process.

ACTION POINT
Refuse to allow your words, beliefs or actions to mislead
Others from following Jesus. Ask the Lord to help you keep this resolve.