“And
if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is
better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into
hell.”
Jesus
is not promoting amputation each time we sin; He is endorsing a perspective.
He
is moving us away from frivolously viewing sin as a mistake, or an error, or
“not God’s best”. These passive descriptions of sin allow us to view it as a casual
error. When in fact it is a dangerous evil that carries catastrophic
consequences.
Jesus
is trying to shock His audience with the truth that it would be better to be
physically disabled than spiritually crippled.
The ramifications of losing a limb are inconsequential when compared to
separation from God.
How
do you view sin?.... are you repulsed by it?...Does it break your heart? Are
you driven to your knees in remorse and repentance when you sin? If not, then Jesus is speaking directly to
you. He is saying do not allow your arrogance to make you tolerant toward the
one thing that can destroy you…act…be intentional….cut out spiritual cancer when
you see it.
If
you find a lump on your body you get it looked at immediately because malignancies
grow…sin does too. The enemy will attempt to hide it and give it time to
progress, but Jesus says you must see it for what it is and eliminate it…..Sin is
not a slipup. It is a dangerous growing disease. Either you are killing it, or it is killing
you.
So,
what needs to be cut out of your life today?
…. A habit?... a group you hang out with?.... a job?... a hobby? …your
phone? Everything is on the table…Unless
it is more valuable than your right-hand Jesus says it is expendable.
Get
out your scalpel and conduct a spiritual exam. Be an aggressive surgeon and if
there is something in your life causing you to sin - remove it. The operation
may be painful, but the long-term benefits are extraordinary.
Have
an eternal perspective. Stop tolerating that one sin you keep making excuses
for and do something about it. With Christ nothing is inoperable, but you must
choose to have the surgery.
Christian,
beware of thinking lightly of sin. Take heed in case you fall little by little.
- Charles Spurgeon
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