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“Warnings Are Really Nurturing If Naturalized Greatly! (W.A.R.N.I.N.G) ”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

“And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck." (Mark 9:42, NIV)

APPROACH QUESTION:
I asked myself  'What have I personally caused someone to do recently?'

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself, 'What if the if-then/cause-effect relationship in v. 42?'
IF anyone CAUSES little ones who believe in me (JESUS) to sin
THEN it would be better for him as a RESULT to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself who do the 'LITTLE ONES' refer to and the significance of that?
'Little ones' refers to little children, as referenced by v.36, who believe in Him but the significance lies in the fact that it could also also figuratively mean those who are new in the faith who believe in Jesus. It may also mean those who are new to a position of leadership.

I asked myself how does Jesus want the little ones to be handled?
Jesus wanted to make sure that anyone listening to Him would not be the cause of the little ones in their care, who have come to believe in Jesus, to sin. Jesus wanted them handled fragilely and delicately to the point that they are not given a reason to sin because of their actions.

I asked myself why does Jesus proclaim such harsh judgment on anyone who causes any of the little ones who believe in Him to sin?
Little ones are supposed to be protected, nurtured, and mentored in the Lord instead of anyone lording over them or being a proximate cause of their sin. If anyone becomes a direct cause of their sin, Jesus knows that they have not been cared for as they should be.

These little ones are new to the faith and the emphasis should be on showing them the Lord's way in truth and love to the point that they are not put in a position to sin by the one who interacts with them. Jesus takes sin so seriously especially when sin in a little one's life is the result of someone else's actions.

But for the judgment Jesus uses, I felt the sin has to have a degree element and the degree element could be anyone causing little ones who believe in Him to lose faith in Him (sin), it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

Not having faith in Jesus is a sin and that is why Jesus says in John 3:16-18 what the result of believing in Him and not believing in Him would be:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."(John 3:16-18, NIV)

So if anyone causes those who believe in Jesus to lose the confidence they have in Jesus because of their negative interaction with those little ones, Jesus is holding that person accountable in a big, big, big way.

APPLICATION:
I asked myself what am I responsible for and when do the stakes get higher?
I am responsible to ensure that my actions and interactions with those new to the faith will not result in them sinning because of what I have said or done to them. I cannot control whether they sin or not but what I can control is 'whether my actions will be a result of their sin'. As an application for myself, it is not limited to those who are little ones but anyone I come in contact with. I should not be a direct proximate cause for their sin.

The stakes become that much higher if I am in a leadership position to shepherd a flock of little ones whether they are church members, small group community members,  etc because what I do and say could have ripple effects in the lives of those who I am put in charge to disciple, mentor, and help grow in the Lord. The ripple effects could be positive or negative where the positive could be helping others to continue to believe in Jesus and the negative could be where they become disillusioned and fall into sin whether it is the sin of unbelief or any other sin.

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself the implications for my own life?
The implications for my own life based on this verse have been profound because I have been on both the receiving end and the giving end of negativity experiencing the negative outcome figuratively of what Jesus said about ,  it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck."

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY  REGARDING W.A.R.N.I.N.G:
I hope my testimony regarding W.A.R.N.I.N.G will help you not to repeat the same mistakes I have done. Recently, I became so disillusioned with myself that even though I would read God's Word everyday, I had no desire to share the devotionals with anyone else because I thought 'What's the point?' when I cannot live it out myself. This morning in a special way I felt restored and wanted to share with you what I learned reflecting on this verse.

In my first year as a cell group leader in my church, I felt I failed miserably in my handling of a situation where I had the privilege of shepherding Bible study leaders. Instead of shepherding one of the leaders, I lorded over the leader. I did not adhere to how the Lord wanted me to handle the situation.

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:2-3, NIV)

Ever since that day, I was never the same again as a cell group leader. I saw myself as a bad shepherd of the flock that was under my care. I could not erase the mistake I did. The weight of that decision made me feel like I had a 'large millstone tied around my neck' to the point that I became ineffective. It had a ripple effect on my life not only in that area but other areas to the point that I gave up months later.

After giving up, I became very, very disillusioned too. It reminded me of the warning Jeremiah the prophet gave to the leaders: "Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:2, NIV)

I wanted to be the perfect leader I could be and when that did not happen, I started to crumble. Because of a PERFECTIONIST attitude, I became more and more imperfect in a lot of things I did as a leader. What I strived for did not happen. In the process, I hurt a lot of people directly or indirectly sometimes not even knowing that I caused hurt.

What I strived for, I saw the opposite happening in every way. I have always been an 'ALL OR NOTHING' guy so when I could not do all things well to the standards that I set, I decided to do nothing. I gave up. To put it into perspective in academia, at one point a B-grade was like a B-sting to me. It had to be that A+. The more I went for that A+, the more my grades started to fall too because when I realized I would not get the A, I just gave up on that class and focused on other classes. So trying to be perfect made me more imperfect. The more I tried to be perfect, the more I gave up.

But, if my story ended here, there would not have been any hope for me. Yes, I messed up badly and lost a lot of leadership positions. Some positions that I lost still aches my heart to this day and I long for a restoration in a particular ministry where the passion of my heart lies in. That flaming fire I had years ago has not diminished but what has diminished so much has been the confidence I used to have.

I used to feel that I have never experienced the grace that a lot of pastors talk about because if I had experienced grace then I would have gotten a second chance in the areas I have messed up in and been restored. Because that did not happen, the concept of grace being shown to me, I could not grasp it. To put it into perspective, my definition of grace would have been if I was fired, being restored to the same position. If that did not happen, I did not experience grace.

I have found that to be faulty too. Yes, I have lost a lot of leadership positions because of my serious mistakes and have not been restored to certain ones that I love but God's grace in my life is still so evident.

Of everything I have been through in the past and recently, it is God's grace that has allowed Pastor Hugo Cheng of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland and Oakland International Fellowship (PCCO-OIF) to mentor and disciple me to grow in the Lord and work through my weaknesses of HAVING PERFECTIONIST ATTITUDE, BEING JUDGMENTAL, and BEING EMOTIONALLY SHUT DOWN.

It is His grace that has confirmed to me that PCCO-OIF is the church I need to continue to be part of for the time being. The Lord has used Pastor Hugo to send me a picture from Israel to reflect on my own life of WHERE I CAME FROM, WHERE I HAVE BEEN, WHERE I AM, and WHERE I AM GOING.

As I reflected on my life recently, it showed me the intensity of striving for perfection in my life.

The Lord knows that I need that extra, extra help in my life so instead of just using Pastor Hugo in my life, the Lord has also been using Edwin Chan, one of the leaders of our church to mentor and disciple me. 

Through both of them, I have experienced the Lord's grace in ways that I have not imagined. The Lord has not left me in the sea with a large millstone tied around my neck to drown but is working in my life. But more than them, I have experienced God's grace shown me through the love of my mom showing Christ's love to me by her words and actions.

If I do not know Christ daily in a deeper way, I cannot really experience His grace. It is knowing Christ and experiencing His love that helps me experience His grace too. Jesus knows the dangers of bad shepherds hurting others and making them disillusioned and that is why a warning is given.

Not everyone would have handled the situation the way I handled it. I handled the situation law-based when it should have been handled grace-based. Any leadership position is a positive given by God in ministry. He appoints and dethrones. When I lost my leadership positions, I knew I was dethroned by the Lord and that hurt badly. But the Lord has shown me grace in so many ways.

The purpose of today's devotional for me is to understand that we are responsible for the sins of others when they are caused by our own actions especially when it involves being disillusioned with the Lord.

When I gave up cell group leadership but remained in that cell group, I praise the Lord that the sheep were tended by new shepherds who do take good care of the flock. Because of their position, I felt shepherded too. I was reminded of the promise in Jeremiah 23!

"I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:4, NIV)

I ask you now dear friend, why heed Jesus' W.A.R.N.I.N.G in your life?
Dear friend, I shared with you what I have been through because I did not heed Jesus' warning. I don't want that to happen to you. It is very well possible that even if it happened to you, you would not have handled it the way I did. But, I lost a lot. It has been a painful recovery. But the Lord is not done with me yet.

If you have experienced what I have experienced, don't give up. Yes, Jesus' warning is very serious but His grace is saving. When you and I turn to Him no matter what we have done or do, He will shower His grace upon us. That does not mean things will go as we want them to but we can be confident when we are loved by the Lord whatever He has in store for us, His hand will be upon it whether we understand it or not.

We need to turn to Him because no matter how much we try to be perfect, we are born in sin and not amount of striving on our own will make us reach perfection. If anything, the more we try to be perfect on our own, the more we will fail miserably and also cause others to fail miserably because we are trying to achieve results on our own. That is not why Jesus came for. Jesus came to show us a new way of achieving perfection and it does not have anything to do with what we do but what we allow Him to do in our lives.

We have to come to the point that we are helpless to save ourselves or even reach any type of perfection on our own but it is His grace and power working in us through the power of the Holy Spirit that can begin the sanctifying work in our lives all because He justified us freely by His grace by shedding His precious blood on the cross to redeem us and set us free. Until we understand the magnitude of Christ's love experienced through His Word, His Spirit, His community, and give our lives completely to His control, we will not be living a joyful, humble, and courageous life.

It is time to let go of ourselves and our striving and just rest in the arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The warning started out with millstone around neck but the wellness begins with having grace of the Lord Jesus around our heart. It can happen friend because that is why Jesus came to shower upon us His grace.

When we go our own way, we forget that and is as if we are living our lives without Christ. Don't let that happen to you and please learn from my testimony of what not to do and do filtering it through God's Word.

May you and I rest in His grace knowing warnings are really nurturing if narrated greatly!

"Warnings Are Really Nurturing If Naturalized Greatly!"/"Why heed Jesus' W.A.R.N.I.N.G in your life?"

PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for all that you have taught me through this lesson. Help me please to remember that my actions could result in the sin of other. Help me please not to be the cause of any little ones to sin against you. I also pray that I can be the light you want me to be and though I have felt a millstone around my neck, you came to free me from that and set me free. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for dying for my sin shedding your Blood and coming back to life to save me by your power. I love you Jesus and need you in my life. Please help me Jesus. Thank you so much Jesus.  Thank you for helping me to share my devotionals again and even do them. Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. In Your Name I pray Jesus! Amen!

If you want to turn to the Good Shepherd, make this your prayer.

May you experience the POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION this day, and give Him the LOCKED areas of your life too so you can experience His PEACE as you become an ACTOR in the film called LIFE being directed by your DIRECTOR, JESUS CHRIST who comes to give JOY and PEACE.

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.

As a professional, it is not too late to join a church! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus this  new year of 2009! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through.  Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible LIVE Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

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