Word@Work 109 - Mark 9:45-48
Published: Wed, 04/23/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 9:45-48 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where " 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' (NIV)
This seems rather violent! The previous passage is dramatic in alerting the disciples to the eternal danger of preventing others from entering God's kingdom. Today the finger is pointed at the self-destructive ability of human nature - to exclude its owner from the presence of God. Persistent and unrepented sin is such a serious problem, because it leads to hell. Hell is a massive problem because there is no relief from its agony and no way out ... ever.
The disciples needed to understand that the ministry of Jesus was not just about well fed crowds, stilled storms or exorcised demons - they were all signs (a little foretaste) of Jesus' eternal kingdom. These signs pointed to an everlasting enjoyment of the presence of Jesus. However, such enjoyment was not intended as a nice 'bolt-on' to a reasonable human life. It was the purpose of Christ's whole ministry. To miss that purpose, is to invite the opposite destiny - hell itself. This was not just a danger for those people who the disciples might obstruct, but for them as well! Quite apart from their ministry responsibilities, they were also accountable for their own moral decisions. And this was tragically realised by Judas Iscariot.
Jesus was not advocating self-mutilation, but self-discipline. This is not to limit the grace of Christ, of course, but rather to define the nature of our relationship with the King of heaven. The consequences of our actions are not limited to this life, so there is an even greater need to make wise moral choices. Those decisions may well limit our 'personal freedom (as it is called today), but are important for our eternal liberty. Our choices matter more than most of us realise! Time for a personal review?
Prayer: Heavenly Father. Forgive me for presuming on Your grace and being careless with my daily decisions. Help me to love you with all you have given me - so that You will have the Glory and I will enjoy Your reward. In Christ's Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
This seems rather violent! The previous passage is dramatic in alerting the disciples to the eternal danger of preventing others from entering God's kingdom. Today the finger is pointed at the self-destructive ability of human nature - to exclude its owner from the presence of God. Persistent and unrepented sin is such a serious problem, because it leads to hell. Hell is a massive problem because there is no relief from its agony and no way out ... ever.
The disciples needed to understand that the ministry of Jesus was not just about well fed crowds, stilled storms or exorcised demons - they were all signs (a little foretaste) of Jesus' eternal kingdom. These signs pointed to an everlasting enjoyment of the presence of Jesus. However, such enjoyment was not intended as a nice 'bolt-on' to a reasonable human life. It was the purpose of Christ's whole ministry. To miss that purpose, is to invite the opposite destiny - hell itself. This was not just a danger for those people who the disciples might obstruct, but for them as well! Quite apart from their ministry responsibilities, they were also accountable for their own moral decisions. And this was tragically realised by Judas Iscariot.
Jesus was not advocating self-mutilation, but self-discipline. This is not to limit the grace of Christ, of course, but rather to define the nature of our relationship with the King of heaven. The consequences of our actions are not limited to this life, so there is an even greater need to make wise moral choices. Those decisions may well limit our 'personal freedom (as it is called today), but are important for our eternal liberty. Our choices matter more than most of us realise! Time for a personal review?
Prayer: Heavenly Father. Forgive me for presuming on Your grace and being careless with my daily decisions. Help me to love you with all you have given me - so that You will have the Glory and I will enjoy Your reward. In Christ's Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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