Daily Devotional
Are You a Stumbling Block?

March 20, 2023

Ponder This

Unity is a matter of lordship, liberty, and love. Romans 14:15 says, “Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.” Let me tell you what love will do in a church. Love will keep your brother from stumbling.

Love says, “I’m not going to give him a reason to stumble.” There are certain things in life that I don’t do, not because I think they would hurt me, but because I think they may hurt someone else who observed me. We are called not to cause another person to stumble.

Love does not give a reason for sorrow. The point of Romans 14:15 is this: I don’t need to do anything that would break your heart, even if I could argue I have every right to do it. Paul was saying, “Don’t destroy your brother with your rights.” The word destroy here actually means to overthrow or ruin. Don’t mar another person’s well-being through personal preference.

• Have you ever abstained from something because you knew it was a stumbling block for someone else?
• What has been a stumbling block for you? How could you share this with others who might help you guard against it?

Practice This

Share with a trusted Christ follower some of your stumbling blocks and ask him or her to support you as you seek to avoid those things.