The Road Devotional | Lent 2024

Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

In this portion of scripture, Jesus is addressing issues that will arise in the community life of his followers.  In the original language, the phrase “things that cause people to stumble” comes from the word skandala: the same root word as the word “scandal.” The idea here is that, among other things, there will be “scandals” in the community of faith that will cause people to fall away from the faith. Modern Christians have seen that played out in real life: child sex abuse, misuse of church funds, and abuses of power are headlines all over the world.

Q. Have you ever been impacted by something that caused your faith to stumble?

Jesus, as he is known to do, is not just complacent with putting the idea out there that people will mess up. We know people will mess up. We mess up ourselves. He takes it a step further. In verses 3-4, Jesus says if someone “sins against you,” forgiveness is the correct action. This isn’t just a one time forgiveness, but to forgive over and over again. This can be difficult to hold, especially when its someone toxic who keeps hurting us in the same way. However, forgiveness doesn’t mean we simply allow them the space to hurt us. In fact, forgiveness is an act of freeing ourselves from their actions.

Q. Who do you need to forgive, even if you can’t forget?

God, forgiveness can be difficult for me. I know there are people in my life that you have called me to forgive. Give me the strength to be able to do so, so that I might be truly free from the baggage that comes with holding on. May I be slow to hold a grudge and quick to speak words of love.

Amen.