Matthew 18:1-9
English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
7"Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.When Jesus speaks of abundant living ~ we are all interested. When we start thinking of sin, and hell and being maimed, it's easier to be busy elsewhere. And frankly, how many one eyed people, from self-mutilation, do you know. Me neither.
Jesus probably doesn't know many one-eyed self-mutilators either. Yet. He says temptation is part of life and it's time to be mature and get out of the path of temptation. Much less participate in the temptation of someone else.
So... maybe this could apply to my diet since July (12 lbs! Gone!). Thanksgiving is coming. My father-in-law was an interesting man. He could be very forthright, and honest. Rude. I thought he was actually mostly wonderful. And we miss him. He rarely crossed the line to mean, because the criticism he leveled was actually... how to have a better life.
All the don't-do-it's of life - are actually how to have a better life. Thanks, Buddy. And thank You, Father God.
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Jesus probably doesn't know many one-eyed self-mutilators either. Yet. He says temptation is part of life and it's time to be mature and get out of the path of temptation. Much less participate in the temptation of someone else.
So... maybe this could apply to my diet since July (12 lbs! Gone!). Thanksgiving is coming. My father-in-law was an interesting man. He could be very forthright, and honest. Rude. I thought he was actually mostly wonderful. And we miss him. He rarely crossed the line to mean, because the criticism he leveled was actually... how to have a better life.
All the don't-do-it's of life - are actually how to have a better life. Thanks, Buddy. And thank You, Father God.
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