From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

© Bill McCown | www.myghcf.com

Matthew 5:30…what? Cut off your right hand if it causes you to sin! You gotta be kidding me! What kind of a God is that? Hyperbole…ever hear of it? Stop and think now, the same God who said not to kill; who said to love your neighbor as yourself, as well as to forgive seventy times seven, is now saying to cut off a hand or two? Do we have some contradictions here? Not if you’re led by the Spirit of God you don’t. Remember, the gospel of Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing but life to His children.

Led by God’s Spirit you will come to understand the hand thing just mentioned was not an amputation command, but rather a principle of excellence in which you are willing to cut away from you anything that causes you to sin…even the most important things in your life. That is all He is saying.

How quick so many people are to disparage others in seeking God or in believing in His existence, all because of their misconstrued understanding of the written word of God. And yet they so easily brush off the reality of the real literal commands of love, forgiveness, generosity and obedience.

Well, think on this…if you don’t voluntarily cut off the junk of life, then not only your hand but your whole body and soul shall perish! We, as Christians, may look maimed to others by what we don’t have, but we are whole and perfect by what we do have…Jesus.

Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!

---