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Splinter in the eye


‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.
Numbers 33:51‭-‬52
‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barb in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.
Numbers 33:55

Just before the Israelites cross over Jordan River to the promised land, this is the instruction God gave Moses to them. To purge out and drive out all paganism. It might look attractive, but make sure it's driven out. Because unless you do that, it will remain as an everpresent splinter (barb) in your eye and thorn on your side irritating you, pestering you, disturbing you and often taking you away from God.
Sin has to definitely come out once you decide to follow Christ (though it's an ongoing process). But there are also things which apparently look harmless, which are not overtly sinful. Israelites were advised not to allow the people to stay with them. (Demolishing the pagan shrines - not a doubt)

King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women..... They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.
1 Kings 11:1‭-‬2
As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 
1 Kings 11:4‭
So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord ; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.
1 Kings 11:‬6

What a deplorable and piteous plight, the world's richest and wisest King has turned out to be. He did not do anything overtly sinful (like his father David). Just a subtle compromise - that has become a splinter in his eye to deviate from being faithful to God.

What's that small splinter in your eye dear one? That subtle compromise which prevents you from being faithful?

1Cor:6:12 says Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.
Everything is permissible but I will not be mastered by anything.

Every habit is good (provided it's not sinful)
But is it beneficial?
Does it help me to be evermore close to God?
Facebook, YouTube,Twitter, Instagram are all good. But is it beneficial?
Movies,Web series all are permissible. But am I being mastered by them?

Have these or any other become a splinter in mine eyes, so much so that it takes away my focus from God?

Take it out. Gouge it out
Cut it off. That's what He says
Be radical. Be practical. 
Weigh it out and see who is better
Rather be an extreme
Than to be found unfaithful
Rather be a "holy thou art"
Than do evil in his sight and disappoint him.


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