Day 152 "The truth spoken in love needs no excuse."

Day 152 Matthew 18:8-9 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.” The message of Jesus is one that is always the same: it is consistent, it is truth, and it is life. So why is it that so many have such a hard time truly understanding it? Why is it that so many books have been written, sermons preached, and other methods of explanation created for a message that is truly simplistic? How many ways are there to tell people that Jesus paid the price for their sin, paved the way for eternal life, and that He requires we change our lifestyle thus removing ourselves from sin and temptation? While, yes, there are many ways to share the message, I fear far too often the message of the gospel has been watered down in order for people to be willing to even consider hearing it; however, is that a biblical approach? Jesus is not trying to be funny or considerate or condescending when He goes so far as to tell people to cut off their body parts in order to avoid sin, and while, yes, I would agree, He is not being literal here. There is no doubt that He is trying to drive home a very serious point. The fact is that eternal life is not something that will be handed out to people on a silver platter; there must be commitment, change, and conversion. When we water it down and make it look all pretty and mushy, are we really doing anyone a favor? Is it possible that we, by watering down the gospel, give people a false sense of hope and a confused view of Christ and salvation? Could it at times even be a false salvation experience? I'll say it again, it makes my stomach churn when I hear people making excuses for other brothers or sisters in Christ who are willfully disobeying God and/or those in authority over them by saying things like, "Oh, that’s just the way he or she is; you need to chill out." While, yes, judgment is for the Lord, complacency toward sin, whether it be my own or a member of the family, is not a biblical approach–confronting in love, however, is. Jesus is saying here that "it is better to enter into life lame" than not at all. How serious is that? He's not mixing words; there is no hidden theological explanation; there is no doubt about what our Lord and Savior is saying. If you are in sin and can't control yourself, take drastic measures to get away from the source of your temptation; otherwise, you will not enter into eternal life with Christ, but rather without! By the way, if I love someone, will I do everything in my power to help them or will I stand by and watch them be deceived? Daily Prayer: Father, help us to be considerate and loving in our approach to those who do not know You; however, Lord, if I have ever lessened the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice by watering down Your Word, please forgive me. I ask that You would give me the confidence to always speak the truth in love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "The truth spoken in love needs no excuse." Pastor Gene Burroughs