The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:18:10-14

kjv@Matthew:18:10 @ Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

kjv@Matthew:18:11 @ For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

kjv@Matthew:18:12 @ How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

kjv@Matthew:18:13 @ And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

kjv@Matthew:18:14 @ Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Today's notes:

Context:

Before - Little ones received
After - two or three gathered

What is man believing/doing?:

despising the little one who now has been lead astray and lost needing saving

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

If from stand point of church in regards to a little one that has been lead astray by an offender - that they are rebelling against Lord, soon to offend and lead others astray themselves
If from the stand point of the church in regards to the offender of late that was early the little one, one in the same - the idea that with everything the offender rightfully deserves from God that he has the full attention of the Father/Shepherd/Angels still seeking him out to save him.
the idea that Lord will still be seeking one after all that has occurred, the idea that Lord rejoices more over one's return than over many others' faithfulness, that the expectation would be for the believers still to pray/love from a guarded distance but not despise.

Notes:

dict:strongs G2706 - despise

Possible scenarios:

The offending man of the millstone has lead a little one astray, the little one is being despised by the rest of the flock because of the reaction and rejoicing of the Man.
The offending man of the millstone and the little one that has been lead astray are one in the same. If so, it is not the will of the Father for Him to perish.

The ministering angels present are given as the reason for us to take heed not to despise them. That the angels are still on the case is a sign of God's will and every reason for us to sincerely take heed. We are to emulate the angels' concern and accountability.

Elsewhere despite is seen in serving two masters, despising Jesus and Him who sent Him, trusting themselves to be righteous, walking after the flesh and despising government. Here, the rejoicing after one is found sounds similar to the Parable of the Prodigal Son; the other son despised the dads treatment of the one. We are being exhorted to watch for these very things.

While the angels have the power to minister, they appear to lack the power to keep one from being lead astray. Notice also that the Man does not keep His little one from leaving the fold, but He does go to find him.

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

We are free to our own to make certain choices. We are also extremely vulnerable to certain corrupting influences. We cannot choose however for there not to be any consequence; on either side of the battle.
There are certainly those who with every intent plan to lead little ones astray. As we have previously seen many of those could be in fact working from within. There are also those who unintentionally cause the same effect by their words or actions or response.
The weapon of choice from outsiders is offence. If one can be offended or made to feel offended or made to feel the object of what others' are offended by, the young belief stands little chance. This can be subtly disguised as humor, a line established by a belief crossed and flaunted, made fun of at the believers expense. This can be less subtly advanced as humiliation and intimidation and social demand/pressure. Fact or truth or logic or well thought out belief has little to do with steerable perception.
Offence can unfortunately also be the vehicle when the more mature of belief respond to such occurrence in a manner not befitting our Lord. The body of believers (imperfect in their own right) are gathered in a collective with every expectation of performing in a perfect manner. Thus, it is difficult to not find some offense somewhere in the body (even if not looking for it/real or imagined).

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:18:10-14
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:18:10-14 rwp@Matthew:18:10-14 mhcc@Matthew:18:10-14
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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