Matthew 5:29, 30
And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell.
You ask the child not to lean back in his chair, but he does so anyway. When the chair tips and the child hurts his head, it’s easy to remind him that his pain is due to his disobedience. Difficulty only sets in for the parents when their little boy or girl grows older and is willing to endure the pain that will result from the disobedience.
How far are you willing to go in pursuit of your sinful desires? Is your mentality one of an innocent child, surprised when the sin leads to pain, or do you, knowing of the hurt that will follow, continue to reach for it anyway? How far are you willing to go in pursuit of your sinful desires?
Or rather, how far are you willing to go in pursuit of your holiness? When Jesus commanded His followers to tear out their eye or to cut off their hand, He was relaying the strong importance of holiness in the kingdom of God. Holiness, the desire, process, and ability to look like more like God every day, must be held as a priceless endeavor. You must be willing to sacrifice all for the chance to glorify God through your actions.
Cutting off your hand isn’t about the price of your sin… it’s about the value of bringing glory to the Father! Staying pure until marriage, not spreading rumors, and telling the truth must be so important to you that you would endure the pain to pursue the holiness.