Resolve This

Recently our family went through a situation that shook us, let us down, hurt us and caused us to stumble and lose our footing on what we thought was a solid path.  We were judged unrighteously and without compassion, and left found wanting.  In man’s opinion.  Not in our Lord’s.  This is something we have battled with, prayed about, sought counsel over, and thankfully we are now coming out the other side of, albeit weary and battle-scarred.  If I were to ask you what makes you trip up and stumble, you’d no doubt answer it was because some obstacle was put in your way which knocked you off your stride and compromised your balance.  If that thing wasn’t there, you wouldn’t trip.  Something was put in your way and when you reached that point, it was inevitable you’d fall over it, perhaps headlong into the ditch,  or if you were fortunate, before you hit the ground face-first, the Lord intervened and lifted you, set your foot on a rock again and rejoiced over you with singing.  Whatever is causing our brothers and sisters to stumble are things that do not belong in your life, your church, your doctrine, or your hearts.  The only way to stop people suffering at the hands of these stumbling blocks is to remove them.  We wouldn’t trip if they weren’t there.  They have no place in the family of God.  Then again if your idea of the family of God is one that excludes and shuns those who don’t fit your unique criteria, then you need to remember who you are in the light of the perfection of Christ.  A sinner, saved by grace, just like me.