[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Tuesday February 6, 2007

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotion Tuesday February 6, 2007

The devotions this week are prepared by Pastor Ludwig. He explores some of
the outrageous statements of Jesus.

 

Matthew 5:30

"And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away;  it
is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go
into hell." 

This passage always bothered me as a child. I can remember being intentional
about hitting my brother and snitching Mom's cookies with my left hand.
After all, Jesus didn't say anything about cutting off my left hand.  

Why does Jesus make such an outrageous statement?  If we took it literally,
there would be a lot of Christians missing their right hands!

Jesus truly want's to get our attention.  Since the right hand is the
so-called "dominant" hand, it is the one we use for power-actions.  We hit
with the right hand. We shoot guns with our right hand, We throw rocks with
our right hand and as I experienced from a fellow motorist Sunday on I94, we
hurl insults with the right hand.  In God's kingdom, the hand by which we
are most often empowered to deliver insult and hurt, must be redirected
toward good or it is not worth having.

How will you use your hand today?  To strike your child and call in
discipline or to wipe away their tears as you encourage and model grace to
them?  Will you use your right hand to flip off someone who has made you
angry or to flip out a five dollar bill for the salvation army?

Have a handy day today. Be outrageous in the Jesus style.

 

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