August 30

For none of us libeth to himself. — ROMANS xiv. 7.

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or manned, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. — MATT. xviii. 7, 8.

OUR Lord means by offences stumbling-blocks, which cause men to fall into sin, and are therefore a fruitful source of evil in the world. So long as sin and Satan have power over men there will be such stumbling-blocks; and although it is the Evil One who thus seeks to bring dishonor on Christ and his cause, yet those through whom he acts as agents will be held to a strict account for resulting evil.

It is a comforting thought, however, that God can and does often overrule such offences for good. They may serve to strengthen Christian character, and show who can be depended on; and yet no true believer should knowingly or willingly become a tool of Satan to injure Christ's cause. He should be ready promptly to give up any course, practice, employment, or indulgence, however he may value it, which is a stone of stumbling to himself or others, and leads to sin.

Let us, then, never persist in what is plainly misleading to persons of weak faith, and causes them to fail, even though it may not be in itself sinful. Let us abandon everything that is injurious to our spiritual life, exposes us to overpowering temptation, and is a serious drawback to our progress and usefulness as Christians.

J. R. Burgett

I must the fair example set; From those that on my pleasure wait The stumbling-block remove; Their duty by my life explain, And still in all my works maintain The dignity of love.

C. WESLEY.