We have entered 2010 and countless people have talked about this year's resolutions.  Pastors have blogged and spoken about what we should do next as we have now entered another decade. 

I was reading Matthew 5 the other night and began to think about resolutions.  I was wondering if anyone ever resolves to eliminate sin from their lives?  I know this is a daily thought we probably all have, but to make it a new year's resolution, not so typical. 

Matthew 5:29-30, "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away.  For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell."

These are harsh words spoken by Jesus.  In His culture the right side of the body was considered more important or more powerful.  Our eyes cause us to lust in our mind and our hands represent the physical actions that we take as we sin.

Was Jesus telling them to physically cut off their hands and pluck out their eyes?  I don't think that was his point. His point was to make us question what things are causing us to sin.  What is important or powerful in your life that you are allowing to rule over you?  Sometimes we have to give up that which might be the hardest.

This New Years let's resolve to get rid of the things causing us to sin in our life.  I want to give up the things of this world even though they may seem important, so that I can live more pure.  Let's seek to give up that which might be the hardest. 

Let's be people of purity.  When it comes to sin, we need to cut it off and pluck it out.