Cut it off
And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Matthew 5:30
This scripture has always been a little disturbing to me. I mean, it seems so dramatic and extreme to cut of your right hand and cast it from you. Why would you cut off a part of your body? Why not just remove the offense from your life. However, now that I come back to this passage after some time, 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 or destructive habit that you can’t seem to shake, cut it off! Cut off all connections with that behavior 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 that undesired activity, flee from it 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 Potiphar’s wife came onto him. 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 for him to stay pure in. 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 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.
Lastly, when you are in the position of struggling, it will be very frustrating as you continue to fall into the same pit, but don’t be discouraged. Instead ask for help. You do not have to overcome alone, in fact you probably never will. You need the strength and help of God’s Spirit and He is right there inside of you waiting for you to ask. Invite His wisdom and help into your circumstances to keep you far from any temptation and to lead you in a direction that is far from the offenses of the world.
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: Matthew 5:27-32
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
The Daily Dose 