NEW Charmer Pratt, a longtime member of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia, has served faithfully in the welcoming ministry since 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Cut it Off!” 

Matthew 5:29-30 

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. [30] And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. 

Matthew 18:8-9 

And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. [9] And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

When anyone reads this passage for the first time, two thoughts likely come to mind. First, this teaching conjures a very graphic image. Second, does Jesus literally mean it when He says to tear out your eye if it causes you to sin? I would assume the disciples had these same thoughts when they heard these words from the Lord in person.

I agree that this is a graphic teaching, but Jesus meant every word of it because He made sure it was taught twice. I believe Jesus was being hyperbolic, not literal, as I have never mutilated myself, and I don’t think anyone should. However, when you consider what Jesus was really pointing to, part of you may wish He were speaking literally.

Our eyes, hands, and feet are among the most necessary external body parts for daily life. In fact, you’re using at least two of them to read this devotional right now! Yet eyes, hands, and feet do not cause sin, so we would not need to cut them off to prevent it.

But what necessary things cause sin in our lives? Is there anything in your life that is extremely useful, or even necessary, that causes you to sin and needs to be cut out? Following Jesus means waging war against sin, and extreme measures may need to be taken.

Here are a few hypothetical examples:

• Privacy causes me to watch pornography, so I no longer use my phone or computer when I’m alone.
• Driving causes me to curse and yell at others, so I sold my car and now rely on public transportation and the help of others.
• Working extra hours causes me to hunger after money, so I limit my work hours, even if it means missing out on career advancement.
• Social media causes me to envy others and doubt that God is truly working in my life, so I deleted all my accounts.

Just as someone missing a limb looks vastly different from someone with all their limbs, our lives should look vastly different from those of unbelievers because we follow Jesus’ teaching. Don’t let what seems necessary in your earthly life prevent you from experiencing eternal life. Remain at war with your sin!

Prayer: Father God, there is no better place to be than in Your presence. Please reveal to me the things I cling to that keep me in disobedience to You, so that I may cut them off. May I follow Your lead, always waging war against sin. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Song of Songs 4

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Lunch Break Study

(Prepared by Doug Tritton; originally posted on June 15, 2015)

Read Ephesians 5:15-17: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Questions to Consider

1. What are some things you do that may be unwise with your time? What are some things you could do that would be wise with your time?
2. What does Paul mean when he says that the “days are evil”?
3. How can one understand “what the will of the Lord is”?  Why is this contrasted with foolishness?

Notes

1. There are many, many things that are unwise! As discussed previously, binge-watching television shows is a great example. But anything that distracts us from the reality of God’s Kingdom could be unwise. Wise things would be reading the Word, praying, spending time in fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, evangelizing, and a whole host of other activities that promote sanctification in our lives.
2. The days are evil because we live in a world that is so often against God. We face temptations every day, but God calls us to look past this world and to see the hope of the Kingdom. Remember, Jesus said each day will bring trouble (Matt. 6:34), but our aim is to seek first His Kingdom.
3. What a difficult question! But the only way to truly know God’s will is to know God; thus our time ought to be devoted to knowing Him more. This is true wisdom: to know God. Foolishness is ignoring God and thinking we can still understand His will. Before attempting anything for God, we ought to start with first knowing Him more.

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Evening Reflection

Evaluate how you spent your time today. Do you feel like you wasted your time or do you feel like it was invested into the Kingdom of God?  Remember that God gives grace and His mercies are new every morning. Pray for the strength and resolve to seek first the Kingdom of God tomorrow.