Tripped Up

         Some time ago, our new kitten who is growing by leaps and bounds, was running through the house as fast as she could.  I didn't see her coming and was moving about in our study when she slammed into my left foot, causing me to stumble.  There was a loud crash as I hit the floor.  The kitten went as fast as she could to her hiding place and didn't come out for several hours.  Getting up off the floor is no easy task these days, but found enough furniture to gradually climb up until I was standing once more.  Every now and then we have those situations in our lives when we physically stumble.  It can be caused by a pet by a throw rug or any other object that has found its way to your floor.  Stumbling is never any fun.  Just as true as physically stumbling is the spiritual stumbling which also takes place in our lives.  Psalm 119:165 says, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."
      The word "offend" in the King James Version, has the meaning of stumbling.  Stumbling blocks often impede our forward motion and this can occur during our spiritual lives as well as in our physical lives.  The Christian life can be compared to walking.  In fact, the book of Ephesians describes five different walks that should be present in the life of every believer.  Not only the book of Ephesians but many other passages speak of our walk in our Christian lives.  Our walk can be further described as our behavior in each situation in which we find ourselves.  How far can you go before you are "tripped" up by something happening in your life?   As you may well know, Psalm 119 it composed of 176 verses and 171 of those verses speak of the Word of God in one way or another.  The end of the verse would have the meaning of, "...nothing will cause them to stumble."  It is good to know that there is a way in which we can avoid stumbling.  We pick up things that are on the floor of our home or out in the yard so we will not trip or stumble and have an occasion to fall.  For the believer, our spiritual stumbling can be greatly reduced by staying in the Word of God.  It is probably just as true for us that we know this truth yet for some reason we don't abide in the Word of God.  It is as though we have put the Bible under glass with a note on the top, "Break glass in emergencies."   The Scriptures are for the big things in our lives, but not only the big things but for every thing that takes place in our life.   By remaining in God's Word, we greatly reduce our occasions to stumble.  Be in the Word of God today that you may not be tripped up.  Praise God for giving us the greatest Instruction Book, the Holy Bible.