“Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29).
Jesus is not asking us to maim ourselves, but reminding us that if we take our faith seriously, there is going to be a cost. Do you consider anything in this life more valuable than your faith in the Lord? Too many put the Lord in the category of the fingernail. Cut that off if you need to. But the Lord tells us that there is nothing more important than what He is doing for us.
Lord, I am with You and You are with me. Guide me, Lord, so that in You alone do I see my hope and future. Lead me to live into this life You give, no matter the cost, and pay whatever price I need to pay to accomplish all that needs to be done. In my humanity, Lord, I have a hard time imagining being without parts of my body, but I see those around me who are without, and they are doing just fine.
Lord, not that I want to lose an eye or any other body part but help me to come to the place where I am willing to do whatever it takes to follow You in all my ways. Guide me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is my hope. Help me to live for You today and walk in the goodness of Your grace and mercy. Lord, I want to be with You forever. Guide me to do all You give me to do so that this may become true. Amen.
