” Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. You should enter life crippled than to have two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. You should enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eyes cause you to sin, tear it out. You should enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die in the fire is not quenched, for everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but how will you make it salty again if the salt has lost its saltiness? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. Mark 9:42-50
Jesus loves the little children. The highest priority for Christ-followers is to set the example for the children by how they live, what they say, and what they do. When we do this, we show a sincere love for the children. Christian parents must also do their best to guard and protect their children from the ungodly influences of the world. Christian parents must help their children to avoid the impact of ungodly friends. The parents should be cautious about how we allow the world to introduce ungodly things to our children’s minds and hearts utilizing education or avenues of entertainment, such as television, the Internet, music, and other media. It is our responsibility to teach our children and to instruct them in godly ways. This principle also applies to anyone looking to us for an example of what it means to follow and sincerely love Christ. Putting a great millstone around your neck is a solid morning to those who might influence others, particularly children or a childlike follower of Christ, to sin or defy God. We must be careful not to offend or spiritually mislead anyone who might look to us for a godly example. It is one way for us to go our way, but to cause others to follow away from God isn’t even a greater offense to God and will incur Christ’s greatest wrath.
Hell, the place that people think is a joke. They laugh about going to hell as if it’s going to be a party! However, it’s not! It is described as a place of unquenchable fire! Fire creates heat! Think about a time where you were in a hot spot. Remember how miserable you were! Hell is way worse than that. Every influence of sin – which separates people from God- is destined to go to hell. We must oppose and reject evil. Whatever the cost is. Send must be put to death in our life. We have to turn away from it.
Jesus uses a figure of speech that makes a point by using exaggeration. He’s not saying to cut off a hand, or foot, or take out our eye. He is saying that whatever we have to do spiritually to remove the temptation of sin, we need the help of the Holy Spirit to do it. We might need to have spiritual surgery. As long as we are on this earth, we will all be battling sin. We can never stop fighting against corruption. We need the Holy Spirit’s help to battle sin. We can not do it on our own. We have to be constantly aware of the influence of evil. Remember, Satan is sly and sneaky. Temptation can come so innocent till it’s not. We have to have our eyes focused on our triune God to be protected!
What does your life reflect? Does it reflect the way of living obediently to God or obediently to Satan?
Do you rely on the Holy Spirit to keep you away from the temptation of sin to give you the power to say no?
Are you in tune with God and his ways to help with the battle against sin?
Dear heavenly father,
I thank you so much for loving us the way you do. Holy Spirit, I invite you into our lives to help us battle against sin. God, I pray that we will be so aware of how we live our lives that we will not make another falter. God, I pray that we will find a way to not fall into the temptation of sand. Whatever we have to do to remove that said, we will do it; we will have a spiritual surgery of removing that temptation.
In Jesus Name
Amen
