Cut it off
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— Mark 9:43
This scripture has always been a little disturbing to me. I mean, it seems so harsh to cut off your right hand and extreme for that matter. Why would you cut off a part of your body? Why not just remove the sin from your life. However, now that I understand this passage better, it makes perfect sense to me. In fact, that is exactly what the message of the verse is. If you are struggling with a sin that you can’t seem to shake, cut it off! Cut off all connections with that sin and get as far away from it as you possibly can. The passage also says that if you are having trouble with what you are looking at, stop looking at it and get it out of your sight.
An example of this may be a toxic relationship that always seems to influence you to activities that you do not want to be involved in? Cut it off. Break off that relationship and get far from it. Until you are strong enough and stable enough to say no to the temptation that come with that friendship, flee from that connection to save your soul.
If you struggle with addictive substances such as drugs or alcohol, cut them off. Give yourself no access to them and stay far away from people who would try to lure you back in again.
It reminds me of Joseph, when he was pursued by Potiphar’s wife. He cut that conversation, relationship and coat off as quickly as he could. He ran out of the place because he knew that was the wrong environment to be in to maintain purity. This is a perfect example of how we should behave when approached with temptation. Do not consider, do not count the cost just get away from it even if you have to leave something or everything behind.
James 4:7 gives us the answer to any temptation that comes our way. It says: Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. When you acknowledge your Heavenly Father in all your ways, you are taking the first step in resisting the enemy and his plans to trap you in a sin that you cannot get away from.
Today I want to encourage you to first of all submit all your thoughts and ways to God. Then He will strengthen you to resist the devil and his tricks to hold you in bondage to habits and addictions. Next, cut off all relationships, activities and substances that cause you to stumble. Cut them off and get far away from them. The more you stay away, the easier it will be to keep away. So, the next time your right hand tries to cause you to sin, cut that sin off before it ever happens.
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 9:42-50
42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—
44 where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—
46 where ‘Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—
48 where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
49 “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
The Daily Dose 