Mark 9: 43 "And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell"
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Wow! What a shocking section of scripture! Is Jesus really saying that people should cut off parts of their body due to sin? I don't think so. He repeats the phrase: "If your hand...or...If your foot...or If your eye...causes you to sin". But how can the members of the body be the cause of what the mind directs?
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The hand and the foot and the eye may be the means by which sin is carried out....but they are not the cause.
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Consider the process that leads to sin from the book of James. James 1: 14 "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."
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Sin doesn't have its conception in our bodily members. It has its conception in our desires and our decisions to fulfill them. We don't need to cut off parts of our body to deal with the problem, we need a transformed mind and one that recognizes temptation when it arises within.
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Look for the 'escape hatch'! The Lord promises a way of escape when temptation comes.
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1 Corinthians 10:12 "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
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It seems we need a low regard for our ability and a strong bond with God's Word!
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Psalm 119
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
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It is not about cutting parts of our body off...It's about adding more of God's truth to our minds!
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blessings,
Rob Smith
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"Death is inevitable. Life is a choice!"
John 11:25
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."
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