ALL SIN IS SIN
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’
Mark 9:43-48 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
This is a very strong teaching. Jesus says it is better to live without your hand, foot, or eye rather than to live in sin. If we took this literally, we would find ourselves cutting out our tongues and other parts of our bodies. I don’t think Jesus meant us to literally be cutting off our hands or feet. I believe Jesus was making a strong point that our character is more important than our comfort. The Holy Spirit wants to work in us and through us to project the image of Christ. Part of His job is pointing out anything in our lives that is blocking the full revelation of Jesus through us to the world. That is why the Spirit convicts us of sin—He doesn’t want anything in our lives that blocks the world from seeing Jesus in us. If we have anger or unforgiveness in our lives they can block people from see Jesus through us. If we have lustful thoughts that come out in the way we talk and things we do, the image of Jesus is not seen in us. If we have greed, selfishness, or pride we are blocking the image of Christ to our world. That is why Jesus wants those things to be removed from our lives. All known sin must be dwelt with. We can’t continue to live in sin and be a follower of Jesus. If we keep living in sin those sins will carry us to an eternity in hell.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please show me anything in my life that needs to be removed. Help me today to allow You to cleanse me and empower me to live a life that reflects the image of Jesus.
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