Crushed

as emmer wheat,
producing grains not easily separated from its chaff. Pounding in a mortar or grinding in a hand mill necessary aft

for mouth-watering bread
tasty and sweet.

First, wheat’s moistened, then pounded, before dried in the sun. Then, sifted to separate the grain before milling is begun;

grain or olives to deliberately fine
by a millstone 5 ft in diameter
with a donkey’s might in turn combined.

So imagine the weight
of that stone around the neck
if we do not apply Jesus’ illustration,

since God does not want “one of these little ones to perish.”… The ransom made for even these ones sake. John 3:16; 17:3.

Our love for all beloved members
great and small
we must sincerely cherish.

Lift each one who stumbles and falls.

And definitely not trip them up.

Thus we emphasize Jesus’ warning, mentioned earlier to his faithful disciples, to importantly recall,

against stumbling “one of these little ones who put faith in him.” Matt. 18:6…Divine advice in behalf of those faithfully following the Christ

who willing laid down his life
to also for them

He paid a high price.

*

So, what, then, does Jesus’ illustration teach us about Jehovah God Almighty?

He’s a spirit Shepherd who deeply cares
about each of his sheep,
including the “little ones” by mercy spared—

those who may seem of little importance
from the world’s standpoint, rising lofty eyes and voices in praise only up to the symbolic heavens to stars mortal—high and mighty.

But, in God’s eyes, each of his worshippers is distinct and precious… This can include you too.

However,
the proud, the demanding, the uncaring, and the lawless

will not, in God’s Kingdom, be;

no, not subjects of the Kingdom
of eternity
to unrighteousness pursue.

So, does our love for our brothers, our humility, our godly fear, move us to avoid stumbling others by our conduct?… Permit us to show impartial love, through-and-through?

Or do we insist on our “rights” no matter how this attitude and conduct may affect others by what we selfishly freely say or arrogantly do?

Rom. 14:13, 17.