Matthew 18:7-9 -- On Change

"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire."
Matthew 18:7-9


I don't think that God is asking us to maim ourselves here, but is rather trying to make a strong point about some of the mind traps that we set for ourselves. If we have a bad habit or we want to do something that God asks us not to do, often we justify it by claiming it is in our nature... this is how man evolved, or this is how I was born, or this is how I was raised, and I can't change it. It is part of me. With God's analogy he is saying, okay... if you have incorporated the world into yourself, then physically cut it out. If there is part of you that is preventing you from reaching heaven, then *change* it.

It might seem impossible to us to change some of these things that seem like part of ourselves, but part of life is exactly this challenge... the struggle of having a body and trying to join our spirits to it, and understand that dual nature, and make sure our spirits are coming out on top, rather than the "natural man" (Mosiah 3:19). Today, let's talk to God about whatever is holding us back from him and from heaven... and let's pray for his help to change... to even want to change. If we ask in sincerity, he will help us to let go of the bad and embrace the good... and if we walk God's path, in the end, no matter what sins or selves we shed, we won't end up being maimed, but rather will become whole and complete and happy, through God's help and his grace.