Cut it off

Just cut the finger off.

This is what I heard NFL player Ronnie Lott said.

He broke or dislocated his finger and they told him that if it prevented him from playing, then he could just have has finger cut off.

So after the season Ronnie Lott tried to see if the finger was going to get better.

He had two choices either go through some surgery to get it fixed and miss some playing time or have the tip of his pinky finger amputated and be ready for the season opener.

He had the finger amputated and went on to his third Pro Bowl season.

That's dedication to a team.

To keep himself in the game he was willing to cut the problem off.

Does that make sense to you?

Jesus is talking to his disciples and bring up some interesting sentences.

He had some children around and tells them this in Mark 9:42-43…

"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.
If your hand causes you to sin, 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.^"

Jesus starts out talking about causing children to sin and the ramifications that causes.

Jesus was basically saying if these kids have faith in me and you make it so they don't in any way, you are going to some harsh punishment.

Then he goes on to talk about sin.

If a body part causes you to sin cut it off.

Jesus did not mean literally cut it off.

He meant if there was something that was keeping a person from following him (any sort of sin) then action had to be taken in order not to commit that sin.

Jesus is saying there has to be a big step not to make that sin anymore.

It doesn't mean that you have to cut off your hands, feet or eyes (if this was the case none of us would have these).

Instead it needs action in order not to sin anymore.

Sin causes guilt, hatred, depressive thoughts, isolation and moves you far from the person you are meant to be.

When I sin, this is honestly how I feel.

Withdrawn.

All of these things cause us not to serve Jesus with the best of our abilities.

There are things we all need to fix to be a better person in general and a better person in regards to following Christ.

You don't have to write it here, but think about on your own.

What is keeping you from being the person you want to be?

What is one change you can make today to move towards that person?

This week?

This month?

In three months?

Six?

A year?

Jesus wanted people to change for the better.

There are things we all need to change.

Have a great day.