Cut it off

Jesus was never afraid to ruffle some feathers. He would deliberately say things that would infuriate some of the most powerful people of his day. Just look at when he told the Pharisees, the religious leaders, that they were of their father the devil. (John 8:44) So we know that Jesus wasn't afraid of saying something radical in order to get people attention.
We find him doing just that in Matthew 5 as part of his famous sermon the mount. In Matthew 5 Jesus is talking about various issues such as anger and hatred and then he comes to the issue of lust, a lengthy subject by itself. Jesus makes the point that just by looking at a woman with lustful intent you are committing adultery with her in your heart. Again a tough thing for many of the people to hear. But then Jesus goes on to make a suggestion on how to deal with this sin problem. In verse 29 and 30 "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 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."

Now why would Jesus suggest that we should amputate parts of our body? After all I don't need both of my eyes to lust. The issue isn't the eyes or the hands causing the sin, the issue is the heart. The heart is where the longing for sin comes from and put actions to our wrong desires. So should we cut out our hearts? Of course not.

Jesus is obviously taking this to extremes so that they get the point he is trying to make. Sin is a serious issue, and it must be dealt with seriously. That means that at times we may have to cut ourselves off from things that lead us into a sinful lifestyle. A recovering drug addict should not go and be with the people that he used to do drugs with. He is asking for trouble. Instead he should be willing to separate himself. It is the same way in our life.

If sin is such a serious issue that can send us to hell and keep us the life that God has chosen for us then is there any measure that is too much? If cutting off my hand would help solve the issue I just might consider it. But instead there are other things in life that I can  separate myself from in order to live a holy life that is pleasing to God.

So what is it that you need to cut off today? Perhaps it is your T.V., computer, a relationship, a specific place. Whatever it is, find the courage to cut yourself off from those things that are holding you back in your relationship to God