Today we are reading from Mark 9: 42-50:

42 “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.  50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

I heard my mama tell me something once that has stuck with me for years. Sin is not a playtoy.  I can hear her say that in her voice.  Sin is not a playtoy. 

Sin is serious.  Sin destroys.  Sin kills.  Sin is something to be avoided.  It is a constant temptation in our lives, it seeks to destroy everything precious and good in our lives. Sin seeks to destroy.  We need to understand how serious Jesus calls us to take this. 

If something in your life is causing you to sin, get rid of it.  Now, Jesus is speaking in metaphor here, but He wants us to understand just how serious sin is.  We need to root out the things that cause us to sin and give them to God. 

Why is sin such a big deal?  Because it destroys.  The greatest commandment we have a Christians is to love God and Love neighbor. And sin destroys both of those relationships. It destroys our walk with God and with neighbor. 

Jesus calls us to love God and neighbor.  

Sin builds a wall and destroys our walk with God and neighbor.  It literally seeks to destroy the very thing God has called us to do. 

That is why it is so serious. And that is why we shouldn’t play with it.  Put it away.  Those things that look like fun, but we know are wrong, they are fool’s gold. They will destroy.  

Jesus tells us today that sin is a serious thing. Through His grace and by His power, may we stand strong against sin and temptation in our lives.  

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