devotional post # 2015

Luke 17:1-2

Luk 17:1 Also, he said to his disciples, “Stumbling blocks are not out of the question, but tragedy will happen to the one through whom they come!
Luk 17:2 It would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

millstones and movements

A few years ago, Penny and I were in Auckland, wandering through the Maritime Museum, when we came upon a massive millstone—taller than I am, carved from dense stone, immovable and solemn. The moment I saw it, my mind went straight to Jesus’ warning about millstones and the weight of leading others astray. It wasn’t just the size of the stone that struck me; it was the symbolism. A millstone is heavy enough to drag a person to the bottom of the sea. Jesus chose that image deliberately. He wanted His listeners to feel the gravity of influencing others toward error.

That warning becomes especially sharp when we think about theological “innovation.” Jesus knew how easily a clever idea, a fresh angle, or a charismatic teacher could capture people’s imaginations. A single person’s “new insight” can ripple outward, shaping not just one life but entire generations. History is full of movements that began with someone’s spiritual creativity and ended with communities drifting far from the gospel. Jesus’ point is not that curiosity is dangerous, but that novelty in matters of doctrine often carries hidden consequences. When someone introduces a teaching that departs from the well-worn path of Scripture, they bear responsibility for every step others take in that direction.

This is why the old saying rings true: if it is new, it is not true. The gospel is ancient, steady, and rooted. It does not need to be improved, updated, or reimagined. Faithfulness is not found in chasing the next spiritual trend but in holding fast to what has already been given. The church’s task is not innovation but preservation—guarding the good deposit, passing it on intact, and refusing to let novelty masquerade as revelation.

Standing before that millstone, I felt the weight of Jesus’ warning. Leadership—whether in a pulpit, a classroom, or a quiet conversation—carries real responsibility. Our words shape souls. Our ideas can either steady people on the straight path or nudge them toward danger. The call is not to brilliance but to faithfulness.

LORD, give us the wisdom to lead people along straight paths. Keep us humble, cautious, and anchored in Your truth, so that our influence becomes a blessing rather than a burden.