What Jesus Did! 'The Greater Priority' — Mark 9:43-48

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

"If your hand makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body but have life forever. That is much better than to have two hands and go to hell. In that place the fire never stops. If your foot makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body but have life forever. That is much better than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. If your eye makes you sin, take it out. It is better for you to have only one eye but have life forever. That is much better than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. The worms that eat the people in hell never die. In hell the fire is never stopped."
— Mark 9:43-48 NLT
Illustration of Mark 9:43-48 NLT — "If your hand makes you sin, cut it off."

Key Thought

Sin, and leading others to sin, should be avoided at all costs. Being God's pure people is vitally important. So Jesus uses very powerful words and imagery to forcefully drive home his point. Sin and causing others to sin must matter tremendously to us.

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, I confess that the lack of concern the world around me has about sin sometimes infiltrates my own thinking. Please dear Father, not only forgive me, but also stir my heart to yearn for holiness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 John 2:1-2
  • James 1:26-27
  • Galatians 5:22-23

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did is a one-year devotional guide through the gospels, using one short passage each day and following the Gospel in consecutive order. Each devotional consists of a passage, reflection and a prayer which opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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