Those who lead others away from the true God have become instruments of offence. The person you chased out of the church through your character may struggle in their walk with God, but you will still be held accountable for the role you played in their stumbling.

Some people are genuinely born again and sincerely desire to know more about God, yet they are being led in ignorance, like sheep to the slaughterhouse of the devil, by certain teachers. Those who lead them astray will face their judgment.

As the coming of our Lord draws nearer, Satan has increased offences in the lives of believers. He has raised agents from hell to create distractions along their path and cause them to stumble.

The dressing of some sisters has become an offence to young believers. A young believer may say, “Since Sister Grace is doing it, then I can also do it.”

The way of life of some brothers has also become an offence in the church of God. Apostle Paul said that if eating meat would cause his brother to stumble or sin against God, he would rather not eat meat.

What testimony are you living to uphold your brothers and sisters in the Lord and prevent them from falling?

What are you doing to strengthen others in the Lord?

If your actions in the church do not strengthen others, they may eventually discourage them.

Some dress in church in a way that makes others question the authenticity of their salvation. Someone may begin to reason, “If Brother Joseph and I are serving the same God, why should I remain in this condition while this brother is prospering?”

This is the life of those who place offences in the way of others. They are not ready to enter themselves, yet they prevent others from entering.

Some parents have become an offence to their children. The worldly way they dress before them, and some of the things they attach to their bodies, can become a negative influence and lead their children away from God.

They become an offence to their children and wards by leading them in the way of the world, which leads to destruction.

Many children would have known God from the beginning of their lives, but for the worldly distractions introduced by their parents.

No one has the right to discourage another person from serving the true God. Some parents go to church but leave their children at home to decide for themselves, rather than bringing them to church and dedicating them to God.

Jesus Christ forewarned His disciples so that they would not be offended when they were put out of the synagogue. He also warned them that whoever killed them would think that he was doing God a service.

This shows how far offence can go. No wonder He taught us to forgive, even if the person who offended us sins against us seventy times seven times. Forgiveness is one way to prevent offence from taking root in our hearts.

The Lord’s Prayer includes the words, “Deliver us from temptation.” This means that we must continually pray to be delivered from the devices of the devil, so that we do not sin against God because of another person’s offensive behaviour. We must also pray that we do not become an offence to others through our way of life.

Satan strategically places some people in positions of influence to cause others to err against God. Someone may say, “Look at our pastor’s wife and the way she dresses. Since she can do it, I can also do it.”

This is how Satan duplicates his influence in the lives of others, causing offence and eventually dragging people towards destruction. Because your G.O.’s wife is using attachments and wearing jewellery, you may also desire to copy her. Do you not realise that she may have become an offence in your life without your acknowledging it?

Some people occupy influential positions and, through their actions, cause the children of God to sin against Him. They may not realise that Satan is using their influence to lead others astray.

There was a lady in our church who could have made me sin against God when I was newly born again.

She came to my house wearing earrings. However, she did not wear them in church. I asked her why she did that.

She told me that she normally wore jewellery but removed it whenever she came to church. Then I thought, “If she can do that, I can also do it.” I went ahead and put the earrings I had previously discarded back in my ears.

When I slept that afternoon, I received a terrible warning in a dream, telling me to remove them immediately. I woke up and looked around my room to see if anyone was there, but nobody was.

From that day, I removed the earrings and handed them to another person who was still using them.

If others are doing something, that does not mean you should involve yourself in it. Do not assume that because something appears to have no immediate effect on another person, it will not affect you.

Be careful that your life does not become an offence to others, and be careful not to allow the actions of others to become an offence in your own life.

God has a way of differentiating his sheep from goats and tares from wheat by correction and obedience. If God does not correct and rebuke you, you are not part of him.

Prayer: Lord, never leave me nor forsake me, in Jesus name, amen.