Today’s Post By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
Have you ever heard the expression: I would give my right arm if I could have_______? This figure of speech is often used to express how badly a person might want something.
The question begs to be asked: Is there anything we ought to want so badly we would consider actually giving up our right arm to achieve it?
According to Scripture the answer is yes—SANCTIFICATION. “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:30)
I don’t know about you, but my right hand is pretty important to me. It aids me in the tasks of everyday life. And yet, Christ declared that if my right hand causes me to sin, I should cut it off and throw it away.
So, what did Jesus mean by this statement?
Our Lord was using this analogy to express how important it is to remove that which hinders our walk with God.
Jesus did not say that everyone must cut off the right hand, but – if your right hand offends you in your walk with Me, cut it off. Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but Jesus says, if it hinders you in following His precepts, cut it off. ~Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
Larry Alford was nicknamed the one arm bandit. As a promising young golfer at the age of eighteen, Larry’s life suddenly turned upside down when he lost his arm in a tragic automobile accident caused by his own drunk driving. It seemed that his golf career was over, but Larry Alford wasn’t about to let his handicap stop him from pressing forward. After receiving a prosthetic arm, he relearned how to swing a club with such precision that he became an even better golfer than before.
Although Larry continues to golf, the accident caused him to reflect on his values, goals, and priorities. Now he is a motivational speaker and charity event golfer, inspiring many through his ability to persevere and overcome adversity. Larry once shared the following encouraging words with an audience of children who had lost their limbs. “Don’t think of your missing limb as something that makes you a lesser person. Think of it as something that can make you stronger.”
God only asks us to remove the things from our lives that, when they are absent, ultimately make us stronger and better Christians in the end.
What about you? How badly do you want to be sanctified? Metaphorically speaking—would you give your right arm?
