[Jesus speaking]
If your hand causes you to stumble, 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. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, 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, where “ ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ Everyone will be salted with fire.

In reading passages like this, it is important to read in context. The context here is that Jesus is talking about eternal things. In fact, it starts with the transfixion of him on the Mount with Peter, James, and John, also joined by Moses and Elijah. He talks about how we need to value children and not harm them. He rescues a boy possessed by an evil spirit, a spirit the disciples could not cast out. The disciples wrestled with prayer, wanting to be the greatest, Jesus’ mission to save the world and other things.

And so, he says a hard word here. He tells them to cut out anything that causes them to sin. He uses the body as an analogy. Is it better to lose a body part and go to heaven, or have your whole body go to hell? Clearly the first. And he is really wanting to get their attention here. Anything that gets in the way of my relationship with God should be cut out.

Does sports-watching consume me and keep me from ministry on Sunday or throughout the week? Cut it out. Does work and the desire to provide for my family crowd out my time with God? Carve back time, wake up earlier. Do family relationships and conversations get greater attention than my time with God? Take the time back.

The reality is … without a right heart with God, everything we do in our own power is worthless, as if it is nothing. Jesus taught about this here: ““I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬-‭7‬)

Lord, thank you for your wonderful truth here. This passage is not about maiming ourselves. It is about sacrificing every priority and action to your Lordship and placing you first. Thank you for the richness I gain in life! I place you first and will continue to fight all this world throws at me to keep you in FIRST PLACE.