Monday, September 17, 2012

Cut It Off

It was a beautiful Saturday for watching football...or at least our little five year old cheerleader.  Sarah was cheering for a little seven year old football team this past weekend.  I have to admit, I don't completely understand the game of football, but I love watching my little girl cheer! 

Our boys, however, don't particularly care to watch football or cheerleaders (thankfully, not yet--that would call for a whole new post!) 

All they want to do during games is stay glued to their electronic gaming toys or DS.  Joe would once in a while look up to watch Sarah, but mostly we could only see the tops of their heads looking down into a small rectangular screen.

During the game, the boys began fighting over something to do with the DS.  I think Joe had taken Luke's to "fix" it or something.  This was not the first time our boys have been known to fight over these electronic toys.  Actually, the only times our boys ever fight seems to be centered around some kind of electronic game.  Hmmm.

They lose their games quite frequently for this reason.  One would think they would get a clue and learn to not fight.  

Well, this past Saturday, I had had enough!  We had a conversation that went something like this....

"When you fight, you are getting into strife.  Fighting and strife are sin.  It is sin and it is NOT ok. 
Because you cannot seem to keep from fighting when you play your DS, you will not be able to play DS again for quite awhile.

God says in His Word that if something causes you to sin, you should cut it off.  So, we are going to cut off your DS."

"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. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It if better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into a fire that shall never be quenched."  Mark 9:44-45  (emphasis added)

"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--" Mark 9:47

Now of course, we do not literally cut off someone's hand or pluck out someone's eye.  I read a good article about this written by my friend Dustin Largent as a Yahoo contributor. You can click on his name to read the article.  

Basically, a DS isn't good or bad.  However, if it is causing one of my boys to sin, it is then bad and needs to be cut off.
 
The same is true with anything in our lives. 

T.V isn't bad, however, if we watch inappropriate movies or sitcoms, then it is causing sin and needs to be cut off. 

A computer isn't bad unless it is misused to look at images unfit for vessels of the Lord. 

Facebook isn't bad unless it is a main source of affirmation or it takes up too much of our time. Then, it can become an idol.  

Like I said, it is true with anything.  If a relationship is causing you to sin (unless it is your husband), you may need to cut it off. 

Is there anything in your life that you feel the Lord wants you to cut off?  Is there anything in your life that causes you or tempts you to sin?  

Have high expectations and standards for your family and yourself.  You will never live higher than your expectations.  You are a vessel of the Holy Spirit!  He lives inside of you. 

We need to live in such a way that we glorify God.  My kids were not glorifying God when they were in strife over the gaming toy.  There will not be DS in our home for a while.  We cut it off. 

Pray and ask God if there is anything you need to cut off from your life today.






 










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