Bible Reading: Matthew 23:13-22
Most of us would never attempt to
steal from our neighbor. We would
consider that a most horrible crime, yet many of us attempt to steal
(proselyte) members of one church to another.
Those who do such a thing may be religious but they are not Christian.
Some years ago my grandfather
walked me down to the corner store. While
he and the store owner talked, I looked around to see what I could find. I spotted a Tom's cookie jar and my mouth
began to water. I wanted one of those
cookies so while my grandfather and the store owner were being
"chit-chatty", I quickly took a cookie and stuck it in my pocket.
While Grandpa and I were walking
back home my conscience got the best of me and I confessed to stealing the
cookie. To my amazement my Grandpa said,
"I know you stole it. I watched you
take it. The question is," he
asked, "what do you do now?"
"Take it back," I said...which I did.
Now, I felt the shame of my
thievery and my stealing had not only affected me but also my Grandpa, the
store-owner, my mom and dad. Now, we all
know that stealing is wrong. We understand
that principle. There is no blessing in
stealing! The same principle applies
when it comes to stealing "members" as well.
✞ Be a witness, not a proselyter.
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