Little ones who stumble

In Luke 17:1-3, Jesus says, “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come,” and woe to those who “cause one of these little ones to stumble.”

Just who are these little ones? Are they little children? Are they new believers? It seems most likely that they are simple, unsophisticated believers, old or young, who look to their teachers and maybe don’t do that much thinking for themselves. They would be Christians still living on milk, so-to-speak, when some of them, at least, should be on strong meat.

Stumbling can happen—Remember that some were teaching that the resurrection had already taken place (2 Tim.2:18)      and they destroyed the faith of some; some were teaching that circumcision and the law were still required (Gal.6:12); some     refused to receive the apostle John (3 John 1:9). Sadly, all of these were causing stumbling.

C.S.Lewis made the point that much of what he wrote was what he aspired to, not always what he had achieved. Maybe the very best thing we can do to avoid stumbling—or causing it— is to follow the apostle Paul’s recommendations to the Ephesians (4:1) about how to just “live”:—

“Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”