If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.
Matthew 18:8
Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:8 are striking and challenging. He urges His disciples to take drastic action to remove anything that causes them to sin, even if it means sacrificing something as essential as a hand or foot.
For us today, Jesus’ words serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of dealing with sin in our lives. Just as a doctor may recommend amputation to save a person’s life, so too must we be willing to remove anything that threatens our spiritual health and well-being. This may involve cutting off sinful habits, severing harmful relationships, or eliminating sources of temptation from our lives.
While the idea of cutting off a hand or foot may seem extreme, Jesus is highlighting the urgency of pursuing holiness and the seriousness of sin in God’s eyes. He wants us to understand that the consequences of sin are eternally significant and that we must be willing to take radical measures to avoid it at all costs.
Today, let us examine our hearts and identify anything that may be hindering our walk with God. May we be willing to take radical measures to remove sin from our lives, knowing that the reward of eternal life far outweighs any temporary sacrifice we may make.
Pray
Lord, give me the courage and strength to deal decisively with the sin in my life. Help me to identify anything that leads me astray and to remove it, no matter the cost. Help me to pursue holiness, knowing that You offer me abundant life and eternal salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
