Holdin' on...

During his teachings, Jesus rarely spoke in literal statements. Most of his teachings were done through Parables - stories - which reflected his idea that he wished to convey. Those "ideas" are all different based on which person it reaches. This little passage from Mark 9 is no different.

In this teaching, Jesus is saying that if a part of your body causes you to fall into sin, it should be removed, lest you fall into sin and thus fall into the pits of Hell. Did he literally mean to chop your leg off? No way! If he meant it like that, we would all turn into the Black Knight from Monty Python's Holy Grail! No, instead Jesus was speaking, again, as a figurative example. Instead, my belief is simple: if it causes you to sin, or even think in a sinful manner, it is then a temptation and thus should be removed from your life.

I've already proven that we are no longer slaves to Sin. Romans 6 talks all about that. Christ's death freed us from our slavery to sin. This doesn't stop our sinful nature from ruling our lives (Romans 7). The only way to change this would be to fill the empty voids left by ejecting sin from our lives with God (Matt 12:43-45). And all too often, we are willing to eject MOST of that sin from our lives. There is a very scary keyword in that statement: Most. As Christians, we are called to give up ALL things in our lives and follow God's path for us (which involves following Christ, Luke 14).

Sin, to us, seems like a good thing. I mean, speaking as a typical guy, what is so bad about sex? Yet, the bible calls us to be free from any impurities. As a matter of fact, the bible even specifically calls out sexual impurity (Ephesians 5:3). I mention it here because it is a struggle I personally suffer from. Yet, there is so much more to it than just, well, sex! For example, (and this is mostly directed to guys) is undressing a girl in your head wrong? YES! Jesus said it, and Matthew wrote it down (Matt. 5:28). Why is that? Because by undressing a woman with your eyes, you are pushing your mind into that mode. And what you put into your mind eventually makes its way down to your heart, which will become black, hard, and evil.

What sin are you holding on to right now? What in your life makes you think impure thoughts instead of focusing on God? ANYTHING in life that distracts you from your ministry is evil, and tends to direct towards sin! Therefore, get rid of it, and replace it with God! For example, anytime you start looking at that guy or girl in a lustful way, stop, pray to God, and don't look at them. Catch yourself, hold yourself accountable. Have someone else hold you accountable as well.

If you refuse to let it go, what are you left with? None other than an idol. You are essentially saying that God cannot satisfy you more than a sin can. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul says we need to let go of all things of this world. This includes idols! An idol is anything that you worship. Do you worry instead of casting your worries on to God? That is not trusting in Him fully! You trust your abilities to solve a problem more than God, or at the least you don't believe that God can handle it. 1 Peter tells us exactly what we need to do there. ALL of your anxieties. Not most, but ALL!

So, what are you not willing to give up for God? That one thing should be the first thing on your list to go. God is jealous, and God loves us all. Want proof? God tells us he is jealous (Exodus 34:14) and God gives us the definition of Love through Paul's letter to the church in Corinth (1 Cor 13:4-8). Replace the word "Love" in Paul's letter with anyone on earth who you know. Then replace it with "God." Notice the difference? By replacing it with "God" it is a true statement. By replacing it with, say, "Matt" is any of that stuff true? Some maybe, but not all of it.

Give it up! The only thing you have worth holding on to in life is God! The rest is all just chaff, which will be consumed by fire and blown away by the winds like the dream statue from Daniel 2. Give it up, and grasp onto God. Only then will you know His true love and His path for you.

Created about 1 year ago