When working on this sermon I kept thinking about a phrase from a Public Service Announcement from the 60's. It was a television commercial about defensive driving with the catch phrase, "Watch Out for the Other Guy." The intent of the commercial was to avoid automobile accidents by always being aware that other drivers make mistakes. Defensive driving is defending yourself against the mistakes of others. I decided to use the title even though I wanted to make a totally unrelated point.
In the kingdom of God we are to be constantly on the lookout for one another. This is not so we can see the mistakes others are making and avoid them. Rather, we are watching out for one another so that we can help each other. Watching out for the other guy in the kingdom of God is not for defensive avoidance but offensive action! This involves intentionally doing what I can to keep from placing stumbling blocks in another's path.
In the opening illustration I kept putting more and more obstacles in David's path to make it harder and harder for him to "walk the walk." When I put the blindfold on him he got down on his hands and knees determined not to quit. I thought two things: 1) How commendable that he was ready to do whatever was necessary to finish the task; and 2) How pitiful that I would make it so difficult for him. Be thinking this week about how you can keep from making another's faith walk difficult. And on the positive side, what can you do to help make it just a little bit easier for your brother or sister to live a life of faith?
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