One Stumble at a Time

One stumble doesn’t mean the end of the road.

When people fall, the surrounding reactions are varied – some point and laugh; some stand by, uncertain what to do. Others quickly avert their eyes and hurry past, pretending they didn’t see; while yet others simply sigh in disappointment that their heroes, who seemed to always have the perfect balance, in fact proved to be only too human.

And yet some will stoop down, take the grazed hands and gently help the fallen up, while murmuring encouragement, conscious of the many times they themselves have fallen. Sometimes publicly, to much ridicule, sometimes in private, with only the courage born of the knowledge of God’s grace and the comfort of the Holy Spirit’s company to dust off the hurt and the dirt.

They are mindful of their own imperfect humanity and the help given them, with the only valid response being to share this unconditional love and compassion.

All of this may remind you of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37. That parable has often been explained as a lesson to help those in physical need – as an example of reaching out to the hurt and the homeless and the hopeless.

These are all accurate and valuable teachings, but have you ever thought of the injured man in the story as an upright Christian leader, admired and respected by all, who has been ambushed and deceived by the allure of Satan’s lies and temptations? Who has been robbed of his dignity and righteousness by the rough and greedy hands of sin?

That is why it is important to remember that all are born with gifts and the great capacity to be used by God. When one is doing good, instead of praising them, praise God, who is working through them, and encourage them to remain faithful and available to the Holy Spirit’s guidance; for if you confuse the good works with the do-gooder, you will confuse the sin with the sinner. Hence the saying, hate the sin and not the sinner.

It is without doubt disappointing when someone you’ve looked up to and trusted, makes a mistake and loses their way. But that is when they need your support and encouragement the most. When they need to be reminded that God’s love covers over a multitude of sins (James 5:20, 1 Peter 4:8) and that there are brothers and sisters in Christ to walk the road with them. And yes, even to help each other up when we fall.

(Hebrews 3:13)