"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
Another big perspective switch scripture, this one reminds us that spirit always trumps flesh. Our bodies can be renewed, and priority should be placed upon the eternal state of the soul.
That said, of course, our bodies aren't worthless, and maiming ourselves is probably not the ideal way to overcome our temptations, although I think the dramatic twist of offering that as an alternative gets the point across that we shouldn't be using our bodies as excuses to sin. A better alternative is pleading with God to change our hearts, which he can help us with through our faith and repentance (Mosiah 5:2, Helaman 15:7), and in some cases getting outside help with an addiction that we feel unable to control.
Today, let's really work on getting our minds shifted into the idea that our bodies are never excuses for sin. Yes, our bodies naturally have desires and tendencies, but the spirit should be ruling those, finding righteous ways to satisfy our desires, or working with God on changing our hearts so that we have "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2).
Instead of giving in to to the world's view that we have no ability to change, let's look to God, and work with him to take care of our souls first, denying our bodies in every case where that desire conflicts with God. As we do, the Lord will bless us with much, much better lives than we could have otherwise, and clearly better eternities as well. :)
Mark 9:43
Another big perspective switch scripture, this one reminds us that spirit always trumps flesh. Our bodies can be renewed, and priority should be placed upon the eternal state of the soul.
That said, of course, our bodies aren't worthless, and maiming ourselves is probably not the ideal way to overcome our temptations, although I think the dramatic twist of offering that as an alternative gets the point across that we shouldn't be using our bodies as excuses to sin. A better alternative is pleading with God to change our hearts, which he can help us with through our faith and repentance (Mosiah 5:2, Helaman 15:7), and in some cases getting outside help with an addiction that we feel unable to control.
Today, let's really work on getting our minds shifted into the idea that our bodies are never excuses for sin. Yes, our bodies naturally have desires and tendencies, but the spirit should be ruling those, finding righteous ways to satisfy our desires, or working with God on changing our hearts so that we have "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2).
Instead of giving in to to the world's view that we have no ability to change, let's look to God, and work with him to take care of our souls first, denying our bodies in every case where that desire conflicts with God. As we do, the Lord will bless us with much, much better lives than we could have otherwise, and clearly better eternities as well. :)
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