Read: Matthew 5:27–30

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. Matthew 5:29

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gets serious when it comes to battling sin. If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off. When it comes to gaining victory over sin, Jesus advocates radical surgery. Tapering off, weaning yourself off, cutting back a bit on sinful behavior is not a significant enough adjustment—when doing battle with sin, you have got to cut it out.

If you are in the habit of whiling away the hours viewing pornography on the Internet or gambling online, it’s time to get rid of your connection. If you are engaging in an extramarital flirtation that threatens to turn into something more, it’s time to delete the phone number and stay out of touch. If you drink too much and get crude and hurtful when you are out with the guys, it’s time to get new friends. If you don’t, Jesus is clear—you may find yourself in hell. When you are bound by sin, when you are being overrun by your lusts and swept away by your desires, it’s time to get serious, it’s time to cut it out, it’s time for radical surgery.

What sin do you need to get serious about removing from your life?

Lord, You know where I falter. You know there are behaviors and vices that I need to rid from my life. You know how I desire to be a better person than I currently am. Grant me the courage, strength, and resolve to cut sins from my life that keep me from You, and keep me from being the best me. In Your name, I pray. AMEN.