How can we ensure we are not "stumbling" as described in Jeremiah 6:21? \Jeremiah 6:21 in its Setting\ “Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I will put obstacles before this people; fathers and sons alike will stumble over them; friends and neighbors will perish.’” (Jeremiah 6:21) Jeremiah exposes Judah’s refusal to heed God’s warnings. Stumbling is presented as divine judgment upon hardened hearts that reject His word and follow their own paths. \The Reality of Stumbling\ • Off-course living that trips us up spiritually and morally • Loss of footing that keeps us from steady progress (Proverbs 4:19) • Disastrous fallout that affects families, friends, and communities (Jeremiah 6:21) \Roots of Stumbling Highlighted in Jeremiah 6\ • Deafness to God’s voice (v. 10) • Reliance on deceptive teachers (v. 14) • Love for crooked gain (v. 13) • Rejection of the “ancient paths” of obedience (v. 16) \Practical Safeguards Against Stumbling\ • Cultivate delight in Scripture – “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” (Psalm 119:165) • Trust and submit to the Lord daily – “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:6) • Walk by the Spirit – “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) • Remain in Christ’s teaching and example – “Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness.” (John 8:12) • Stay humble and alert – “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12) • Pursue fellowship and mutual accountability – “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24) • Keep a repentant heart – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.” (1 John 1:9) \Walking Confidently in the Light\ God is “able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before His glorious presence with great joy” (Jude 24). By loving His Word, leaning on His Spirit, and living in humble obedience, we move forward on a straight path instead of falling over the obstacles that topple the disobedient. |
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