Stumbling Blocks

During my devotional reading this morning I came across Luke 17:1-2, in which Christ reminds His followers not to be stumbling to "these little ones." I began thinking of how I might cause others to sin in one way or another, and I wanted to transparently list those out for everyone that it may spur other believers to examine their own lives as well.

Here's the information from my journal, formatted a little differently from its original. I basically saw a problem, found a Bible passage that addressed my sin condition, and wrote a short prayer for God to change me based on His Word:


Be careful not to cause others to sin. In what ways might I do that?

• Sarcastic & critical spirit--Instead of sarcasm, give me gracious and salty speech (Colossians 4:6). Instead of a critical spirit, give me a tender heart & a humble mind (1 Peter 3:8).
  
• Deeper devotion to theology than God Himself--Instead of a deeper devotion to theology [than God], help me to see Christ as preeminent in all things (Colossians 1:18).
  
• Empty moralism--Instead of empty moralism, help me not to submit to legalism's yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).
  
• Lack of evangelistic fervor--Instead of a lack of evangelistic fervor, constantly stir my heart with the thrust of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).
  
• Anxiety--Instead of anxiety, remind me to be anxious for nothing but to turn to You in thankful prayer (Philippians 4:6).
  
• Distrust--Instead of distrust, help me to grow in love, which believes all things (1 Corinthians 13:7).