Matthew 5:29-30 “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.”

Certain animals such as foxes, wolves, tigers, coyotes, mice, mink, badgers, and even rhinos have been known to chew off their own limbs to escape a hunter's trap. These animals are unable to conquer their fear, they are unable to accept that they are helpless, and they must – somehow, anyhow – get their freedom back! How bad is it to be blind? How painful is it to lose a hand? How painful is it caught time and time again and suffer the consequences of a repetitious sin in our lives? How painful would it be to find ourselves separated from the presence of Christ and the Glory of God on the Judgment Day because of something that we could not give up for Him? Christ teaches us that we should abhor sin, and the entrapment of our souls to it, so much that we would be willing to do anything to get rid of it.

We have chosen to commit ourselves entirely to God. We have consecrated ourselves to our Lord and to His glory and majesty in grateful return for His gift. We therefor need to be continuously on our guard for anything that might harm our relationship with Christ. While Paul in Romans 8:38-39 taught that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God, in context it refers to the forcible removal of us from the presence of Him who has saved us. Notice in verse 37 of the same passage he states “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Notice that we are conquerors! We have already met the enemy and we have surpassed him through Christ who strengthens us! This, however, does not mean that we cannot stray or be lead further away from a renewed repentance by what we might consider a small, inconsequential personal foible which we explain away by thinking that God will forgive us anyways, besides it has no other effects of us, obviously. We are deceived!

Jesus Christ's unconditional sacrifice and unrestrained mercy must be met – by those of use who consecrate ourselves to Him – with unconditional surrender and unrestrained obedience. We have chosen Christ, not the world. The result of our unswerving quest for Christ-likeness is to be more fully like Him and a more complete desire to be unfettered by sin, whatever shape it may take.

Absolute acceptance of Christ is an absolute rejection of sin.

Where do we fall short? What common sin fetters and chains us, holding us against the complete freedom of Christ? What are we capable of doing to remove ourselves from these captivating iniquity? God is there and will aid us every step of the way! We know that God is faithful. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phillipians 1:6 NASB)

Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!