God’s Word…
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Matthew 18:5-6
This may seem to be an unusual passage to be feel blessed by, but it is a foundational scripture for me. When my pastor preached a sermon on it, Jesus shined a light into my soul, teaching me God’s way about a family situation that had troubled me for a long time. This sermon helped me realize I had been doing the very thing the passage warns not to do—cause one of His precious ones to sin. At the very least, I had made it easier for my younger siblings to sin by absorbing some of the negative consequences their poor decisions caused. I had mistakenly believed I was helping them.
The situation is rooted in my family’s struggle with my mom’s alcoholism. She began drinking before we were born and continued to do so throughout our childhoods. It wasn’t until the year I graduated from high school that she found and embraced Alcoholics Anonymous. Her drinking changed the way we related to each other. We didn’t understand we were growing up in an unstable family situation or that we were playing roles to protect her from the truth. My role was the rescuer.
Through this scripture, God showed me that by rushing in to “help” my siblings when they made a decision that caused trouble for them, I was deflecting some of the consequences He meant for them to experience. I was interfering with God’s discipline, which is how He teaches us. God would NOT give anyone this role. God wants us to seek His ways. I was also preventing Him from blessing them as a relationship between them grew. They were looking to me for help and answers, instead of Him! And they needed to rely upon Him.
This scripture gave me awareness that God disciplines us because He loves us. We are not to interfere with Him! That day I asked God to help me relinquish my family role of rescuer and follow Him. I have been humbled and grateful for how He has taught me ever since!
God’s Word…
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Matthew 18:5-6
This may seem to be an unusual passage to be feel blessed by, but it is a foundational scripture for me. When my pastor preached a sermon on it, Jesus shined a light into my soul, teaching me God’s way about a family situation that had troubled me for a long time. This sermon helped me realize I had been doing the very thing the passage warns not to do—cause one of His precious ones to sin. At the very least, I had made it easier for my younger siblings to sin by absorbing some of the negative consequences their poor decisions caused. I had mistakenly believed I was helping them.
The situation is rooted in my family’s struggle with my mom’s alcoholism. She began drinking before we were born and continued to do so throughout our childhoods. It wasn’t until the year I graduated from high school that she found and embraced Alcoholics Anonymous. Her drinking changed the way we related to each other. We didn’t understand we were growing up in an unstable family situation or that we were playing roles to protect her from the truth. My role was the rescuer.
Through this scripture, God showed me that by rushing in to “help” my siblings when they made a decision that caused trouble for them, I was deflecting some of the consequences He meant for them to experience. I was interfering with God’s discipline, which is how He teaches us. God would NOT give anyone this role. God wants us to seek His ways. I was also preventing Him from blessing them as a relationship between them grew. They were looking to me for help and answers, instead of Him! And they needed to rely upon Him.
This scripture gave me awareness that God disciplines us because He loves us. We are not to interfere with Him! That day I asked God to help me relinquish my family role of rescuer and follow Him. I have been humbled and grateful for how He has taught me ever since!
“Butterfly Wings”
I love them so I rescue them,
but is this what God intends?
Or is struggling part of learning,
to center our lives on Him?
The butterfly offers us insight,
of the transformation struggle brings,
earth-bound bodies, encased and still
gain beautiful, fluttering wings!
©Poem by Robin Lybeck
Learn more about my “Before and After”story on the Robin’s Journey page, linked here.)
Click the arrow → to access an online English Standard Version Bible.
Image: original oil painting by Tom Lybeck: Coppers
