Daily Manna 23 May
KEY VERSE: “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.” – (Mark 9:43)
READ: Mark 9:42-50 (KJV)
42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 44 where
‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46 where
‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— 48 where
‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
49 “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
“Desperate situations”, they say, “require desperate actions”! There are times that actions that are considered strange or extreme are taken in order to salvage a situation. This is more pronounced when the life of a person is involved. In battling to save the life of a critically ill person, it is sometimes considered wise and expedient to cut off part of the diseased body that is seen as a threat to the survival of the individual. When this is seen as the last and best option to help the person stay alive, every other reasoning is put aside and what will matter most is to keep him alive.
In this passage, Jesus talks about the wisdom of taking such desperate action that will be required to save one from suffering eternal death in the burning fire of hell! He considers escaping hell as a desperate situation that requires a desperate action. One must do whatever it will take to escape such place of everlasting torments, even if it amounts to losing something as precious as one’s hand, leg and eye! Whatever it is that can constitute a spiritual nuisance to anyone and can serve as an impediment to escaping hell must be jettisoned.
Christ’s teaching reveals that hell is real and must be avoided at all costs. It also shows that it is such a terrible and horrible place of eternal torments. Therefore, whatever may seem useful to us now but will eventually lead us into hell must be done away with. No possession, position or relationship should be considered too precious to give up if such poses a danger to our spiritual life. Escaping hell is a personal responsibility every believer owes himself.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Fix your gaze on Jesus everyday of your life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 6-7
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Whatever It Will Take – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 23 May 2021
