Keep Me From Driving Others Away

# 368 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 26:19 "Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' ( 1 Sam 26:19) David wants to get to the bottom of this deadly cat and mouse game with Saul. Is it the Lord's doing, or has Saul been riled up by those around him? David makes it plain that it is not a good idea for men to be behind this. Cursed be those people who's actions drive others away from the inheritance of the Lord! Because in effect, they are saying, “Go, serve other gods!” In Prov 6:16-18 we read, “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Is someone sowing lies and the seeds of discord into Saul's mind? ....Woe to them. Jesus speaks even more harshly to those who would act in such a way as to keep someone away from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord. He says in Lu 17:1,2, “Jesus said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that causes of stumbling should come; but alas for him through whom they come! 2 It would be well for him if, with a millstone round his neck, he were lying at the bottom of the sea, rather than that he should cause even one of these little ones (these children of God) to fall.” There are enough temptations and false teachings and attractions in the world to lure people away from the faith, let them never come from our own words or actions as followers of Christ. Oh God, do not let me be the cause of someone falling from the faith. Do not allow me to chase one soul away from the cross of Christ. Guard me from sending any message with my words or deeds that would excuse sin, denigrate Your Word, or trample on Your message of saving grace. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!