THROW IT AWAY

Matthew 5:30
It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
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Stealing – well, been there, done that. I would get some money from our store when I was young, without my mother’s knowledge. Well, you can say those are petty crimes, brought about by naughtiness as a kid. I agree and that is what I believed at that time. But still, a crime is a crime is a crime. Pornography – well, been there, done that. It all started with browsing tabloids. Then upgraded to some comics. Then magazines. Then internet browsing (at least, it’s free!). Again, brought about by naughtiness of being a man? Naahhh! That’s what I thought before.

Jesus is very clear. If one part of your body is causing you to sin, the cut it off. Of course, this is one way of interpreting it, that is taking it literally. Another way of looking at it, is cut off the cause of you committing sin. When you are into pornography, then burn all your stuffs. Put a porn blocker in your computers, with the unblocking password being provided and kept by your wife or someone other than you. Keep yourself away from money locations so you will not be tempted. Remember, the devil will not manifest itself to us as a beast with horns and fangs. The devil will come in sheep’s clothing, or looking like a playboy centerfold or a 1,000-peso bill “under the table”. Resist temptation and you will be able to keep your hands and eyes for good. And begin to pray each day, speaking with Jesus as you would with a friend. There is no other love greater than God’s love for you, and you will discover this more deeply through prayer and reading the Bible, which is His love letter to you. Trust Him with all your heart.

Subduing desire begins by cultivating an attitude of detachment towards sense perceptions, by regarding them as impermanent, transient, and of no account. We should only desire one thing – that is the love and mercy of our Lord God. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then, the light in you is darkness…”

Almighty Father, I give my body to your care. Let my body be the home for the Holy Spirit who dwells in me. Let me never sin against Him by any impure actions alone or with others, against the virtue of purity.

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.