So, this is Jesus’ teaching in Matthew chapter 5:29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Is Jesus telling us to be handicapped? No, He emphasizes how important it is to lead a Christian life, striving to ‘*Be holy as He is holy*’ to be spared hell, even if you have to keep yourself from sinning at the cost of losing the body part that causes you to sin.
The sinful trait that the Israelites repeated constantly is that they were attracted by what other nations around them did. They were attracted by the idols that the ‘other nations’ worshipped. They demanded to have a king, as the ‘other nations’ had kings. Bringing into their circle whatever ‘others’ had was a snare for the Israelites. God has called us to be ‘set apart’ from others, and not to do what everyone else does. Let us be careful to discern the doctrines that people teach to live however we like. Flesh does not naturally desire to strive for a holy life. The path to the Cross is what Jesus teaches, and it’s gotta hurt. Jesus fell down and could not carry the cross. It’s gotta hurt to carry the cross. Carrying the cross cannot be as easy as singing and dancing and doing all the sinful things. Every day, unless our ways demand us to be intentional about following Jesus, we are not on the narrow path that leads to heaven.
The Holy Spirit is given to us to help us become more and more holy. *John 16:8 The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment*. The gifts of the Spirit are given to us to build God’s Kingdom. The anointing and the gifts of the Spirit should be protected by living a Holy life. It is not the other way around. It does not excuse anyone to live recklessly.
God does not clip the wings off people today as soon as they fall in their Christian walk, like He did to Satan, who once was the highest worship leader in heaven. If that were the case, then we would witness so many fall to the ground. *Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable*. For this reason, leaders continue to fly with the wings of their calling and their gifts. So, let us not be deceived by their gifts, but carefully watch for the fruits that they yield. And, if the fruit is good or poisonous.
Also, people who do not carefully guard the gifts that they receive from God are the ones to whom Jesus would say on the last day, the scariest verse in the Bible. So, gifts are not to flaunt here on earth but to use them to build God’s kingdom.
*Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!*’
