Radical Measures

Radical Measures
Words of Faith 1-30-2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 9
[43] If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] [45] And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] [47] And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, [48] where " 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'

This could be considered the "poster verse" for non-literal interpretation. We can be literal most of the time, but not all the time. Obviously, Jesus is not suggesting amputation or removal of the eye to avoid sin.

But Jesus points out how seriously He takes the matter of sin. Amputation is a powerful image. Amputation is only a last resort. Only when a limb is gangrenous is it amputated? Only when an eye is malignant or in some way a threat to the rest of the body is it removed. It is better to remove the afflicted limb than to allow it to bring death to the whole body. Jesus made it clear that it would be better to go without an eye or hand or foot than to be thrown into hell. Better to enter heaven maimed than to enter hell "whole."
The image is vivid and powerful. When dealing with sin, radical surgery may be necessary. Decisive action is needed and warranted. If something in your life is causing you to sin against God or those God has given to you, that thing must be removed.
If someone causes you to gossip, no matter how you try to avoid it, remove that situation from your life. If someone or a particular place or group causes you to stumble, take decisive action and remove that place from your life. If specific TV channels cause you to sin, get rid of them. If Internet service causes you to fall, restrict the service or get rid of it. If necessary, get rid of the television altogether. Yes, even the computer, if there is no other way.
The truth is that we all know where we fall over and over again. We all know if there is a "sin that so easily entangles us." Is there something that Jesus wants you to deal with decisively?

Lord, give me strength and courage to radically remove the things that cause me to sin from my life. These things do not honor You, the things that have repeatedly been a source of pain to You and me, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.