Reflections on God's Word

by Victoria Robinson

Does your lifestyle put you in the way of someone else? Do your choices cause others to stumble? Our Lord and Savior told his good friend Peter that he was a stumbling block. The apostle Paul made it a point to avoid being a stumbling block to those in his life. He even went so far as to work night and day so that he would not be a financial burden to other’s.

One way we can cause others to stumble is to exercise our freedom in a way that is hurtful to those around us. For instance, there are those who do not struggle with overeating. Yet they should be careful how they eat when around a sister who lacks self-control. Serving a luscious chocolate ganache cheesecake might be an unwise choice. Instead they should consider the needs of their precious sister. Would it not be wiser to eat the cheesecake when they are in a different setting. The cheesecake is not necessarily evil, but the enemy can use it as a stumbling block to someone who has a weakness. Out of love, we should always be looking to the needs of others.

Dearest girlfriends, let us ask our heavenly Father to reveal to us if we are causing others to stumble.

by Victoria Robinson

The infamous story of a man named Peter who said he would never deny Jesus is a reminder for us to be careful about our words. As Jesus was preparing His friends to understand the cross, the resurrection and even their own hearts, he tells Peter, “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” To which Peter utters his now famous words, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” After Jesus was led away to be crucified  Peter is confronted three times and asked if he knew Jesus. All three times he denied knowing Jesus. His words were quite emphatic as we finally see him saying, “I don’t know the man!” As we know how this story ended we see Peter weeping as he remembers the words Jesus had spoken to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

Oh, our dear Peter, even before this incident we saw him use the word never to his Lord and Savior. When Jesus tells him what He must suffer and that He will be killed, Peter hastily responds with, “Never, Lord! … This shall never happen to you!” Jesus then sharply rebukes Peter by saying, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Later in the book of Acts we see Peter once again having an exchange with the Lord over his use of the word never. Peter says, “Never, Lord, … But the voice from heaven came again, ‘If God says something is acceptable, don’t say it isn’t.’” Wonder why he took so long to learn? More importantly, will we ever learn not to speak careless words?

Although we must be careful saying we will never do something, it is comforting to know our heavenly Father uses the word never in a trustworthy manner. He has made wonderful vows such as, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” After the devastating flood our heavenly Father makes a vow using the word never saying,  “Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.” We have confidence that His promises are just and true.

Dearest girlfriends, let us not speak careless words, but carefully consider what the Lord’s will is.

by Victoria Robinson

Ultimately you know who the misleader is—the enemy of your soul—Satan. It is nonetheless important to consider who he uses to do his bidding. It could even be your very own friends. In the words of the prophet Jeremiah, “They misled you and overcame you— those trusted friends of yours. Your feet are sunk in the mud; your friends have deserted you.” The apostle Paul warned us when he said, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

After Jesus had fasted and prayed for forty days, the devil tried to mislead Him by telling Him Scripture. Hmmm… scary thought that the devil uses Scripture himself to deceive. Just because a friend, preacher, or teacher uses Scripture does not mean they are not leading you astray. You must examine the Scriptures yourself to understand the truth. This is also your only defense against the enemy. Jesus knew the Scriptures and spoke them back in correct context to the devil. Girlfriends, don’t go about being defenseless because you are not aware of the Word of God.

It is essential to examine your life and recognize who might be used of the enemy to mislead you. Jesus did this when He told his good friend Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

What about you? Have you ever been the misleader in your friend’s life? Anytime you do not have in mind the things of God, you influence on your friends can be damaging to their souls.

Dearest girlfriends, I pray we would be alert at who’s misleading us and be careful not to be an instrument of the enemy to mislead others.