Just Pluck IT!

ourselves of whatever would stimulate them.

- In the Jewish culture the right hand and right eye represented the best a person could offer.

• This is how we are to deal with sin. We are to understand that sin is a violation of God’s Holiness. God will not tolerate sin. In the life of the unbeliever, sin ultimately leads to spiritual death. In the life of a believer, our relationship with God will be hindered if we do not deal with the sin issue. Effectiveness for God’s Kingdom is what we are talking about. One day we will be judged even as believers for the works that we have done here on earth. “ Therefore, we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor 5:9-10.) I do not believe that the Bible teaches that we will be judged as believers because of our sins, because that judgment took place on the cross, Christ paid our sins. However, I do believe our effectiveness for Christ will be judged, and we must take very seriously the things in our lives that cause us to stumble before God. We are to give it our best as the statement of Jesus indicates in order to get out of our lives the things that cause us to fail.
• Spiritual surgery is more important than physical surgery. Jesus is using hyperbole here, plucking out an eye, or casting off a limb will not do anything to your heart. What he is teaching here is that we need to recognize the things that cause us to fail, and address the root of the sin.

II. Captivating Our Thoughts: Philippians 4:8

I believe this verse is one that we as Christians should bind around our hearts so that we build our paradigm of life around it. Paul in concluding his message to the church at Philipi encouraged the believers to change the things the thought about. In this verse he gives us 8 areas that should be our guidepost to show us whether or not we are honoring God with our thoughts. As the old computer adage goes, “Garbage in, Garbage out.” If we believer in the living God yet continuously dumps trash into our minds, then why are we surprised if we make no impact in the lives of our unsaved friends and relatives?

1. True—the idea of giving true testimony, “things forming to reality.” The same idea is found in Titus 1:13 when Paul was giving instructions to the elders in Crete and reported that his testimony was true. They were to heed his instructions because what he was saying was worthy to be heard.

2. Honest—the idea of honorable, venerable, grave. In Acts 6:3 when the first deacons were being chosen they were to be men of “honest report.” They were to be serious people; they were honest in their dealings with others. To revere, to worship, think on the things that are worthy of praise and adoration.

3. Just—right conduct, doing the right things, denotes the idea of righteousness. Whatever is in perfect harmony with God’s eternal, unchanging standards, things that are consistent with God’s law.

4. Pure—pure from defilement, not contaminated, comes from the same root word as holy.

5. Lovely—Believers are to focus their thoughts on what the Bible says is pleasing, attractive, and amiable before God.

6. Good report—good language, uttering sounds of good omen.