Cut it Out

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

- 2 Timothy 2:21

I know you probably don't want to hear this, but you need to cut it out. You know what your "it" is, and you need to cut it out.

Many of us struggle with sin in a certain area that we know needs to go away, but we're not actually ready to do what it takes to get it out. In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says,

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

- Matthew 5:29-30

And you thought I was being dramatic...

Now, there's nothing wrong with having a hand or an eye; after all, they were specially created by God Himself for a purpose, but Jesus says that if even that blessing He has given you causes you to sin, you need to cut it out!

Apostle Paul echoes the sentiment in 1 Corinthians 6:12,

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

First of all, you need to acknowledge what it is in your life that causes you to sin. What are the things that are unhelpful for you or that are dominating your thoughts? Is it the things you watch or read, the places you hang out, or the people in your circle? In my experience, this is always the hardest step because once you finally admit it to yourself, you can't go on ignoring it anymore. But you can't honestly want to change/want things to change in your life while wanting to keep everything as is!

In John 15:1-2, Jesus says,

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Imagine a garden where the plants are left alone to grow however they want - not a pleasant sight, and probably not where you want to get your produce from. God wants you to bear fruit - good fruit - and to do that, He has to prune. The only catch is, He's a gentleman, an ethical scientist - He's all about informed consent! You have to let Him. And beware, it's not a one-time thing, so you'll have to let Him over and over until the day that we are all perfected in Christ.

I recently finished reading through the book of Ezra, and wow... they certainly went through some tough cuts. Brief context: The people of the southern kingdom of Judah had been in exile in Babylon for many years, and finally, the Lord fulfilled His promise to restore a remnant. Years after the first batch returned, Ezra followed, only to arrive and find out that the people had resumed sinning against God by intermarrying with and joining the idolatrous practices of the surrounding pagan nations. Then, Ezra 10:1-4,

While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.”

Yes, cutting is hard. Imagine losing a hand, an eye, or a wife! Likewise, some of the things you have to cut off might be longstanding parts of your routine, and it will be hard to get used to not having them around anymore. But you can't afford to stay the same, not anymore. Nothing is worth keeping if it keeps you away from God!

"Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it."

Peace and love of Christ be with you all!