Thoughts for the Day

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus gives us a stark picture of the choices left to a physician 2,000 years ago. It was often necessary to remove a hand or a foot when it became injured in order to save the whole life. If gangrene set in the person would undoubtedly die unless it was dealt with quickly.

He uses this as a vivid example of what stops us following the path he has set before us. All too often various parts of our body cause us to sin - our eyes and ears can lead us to be envious or jealous of others; our hands can engage with all kinds of sin from hurting others to taking what is not ours; and our mouths are all too keen to engage in gossip or sarcastic words!

We are not to follow these verses literally obviously, but if we have decided to follow Jesus and set our course on getting closer to our Heavenly Father, then no sacrifice is too large. What things can we give up to follow Jesus' instructions to love all people, and I am not talking about chocolate?

Lord Jesus Christ,
nothing is too big to give up
when we truly want to follow You.
Help us to examine our life,
and to root out all things
that separate us from You,
then having made the changes
to stick to them.
Amen.