If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
Mark 9:42-43

Jesus is talking about sin again here. The images he uses are graphic and the metaphor is a strong one. Wherever we encounter sin in our lives, we are to cut it out. Sin is intolerable.
And cutting it out will be painful. But be clear about this message: Living life while dragging around our sins will hurt our relationship with God. We need to view our lives from an eternal perspective and live in ways that will allow us to enjoy eternal life with God.

God is not looking for perfection from us. He knows that the temptations of this world can be overwhelming. God knows we are all sinners. Nevertheless, we need to keep trying to root out any sin in our lives.  Once we realize that we will fall short of perfection, that alone we are not enough, we can recognize and accept that only with God’s forgiveness can we be good enough.

Today, acknowledge that you are a sinner and ask for God’s forgiveness. Thank God for looking beyond your faults and for loving you unconditionally.