pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." This is a warning against the snares of improper sex ual desires since the immediately preceding verse refers to adultery while the following have to do with divorce. Similarly, Matthew 6:22 deals with the role of the eyes in material things. Christ refers to hu man greed, reminding us that we cannot serve God and money at the same time. The eyes are the primary reason by which we are tempted. The Bible also speaks of the tongue. In fact, the book of James, particularly the third chapter, is given over to this teaching. Note with what difficulty men have tam ing this little member. As for man, his tongue is absolutely incorrig ible. Only God can make the dif ference. The only way it is possible is by submitting our minds and hearts to Jesus Christ. If Jesus is to be magnified through our tongues, then we must be totally committed to Him. We have to cast down im aginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowl edge of God. We are to bring into captivity every thought to the obe dience of Christ (II Corinthians 10:5). There can be no purity of speech apart from purity of mind. A final truth emerges from Phil- ippians 1:20 reminding us that our bodies must be surrendered to Christ (Romans 12:1). First of all, we must belong to God ourselves before anything can be offered to Him. This means that the kind of life the Bible advocates is impos sible for non-Christians. He does not have the Holy Spirit living Page 57
born again. Many Christians cher ish the notion that Cod is honored only by their devotional life or by what they happen to do on Sun day. Such a view certainly is not found in Scripture. As an example, David was a deeply spiritual per son who honored God in every thing he did — as King of Israel, poet, warrior for the Lord. Certain ly Jesus Christ knew no division in His life. Everything He did was fo calized on pleasing His heavenly Father (John 8:29). The same was true with Paul (I Corinthians 10:31). Things are not secular and sacred — it is all God's work if we really love Him. For this reason we are to present our bodies a living sac rifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable ser vice (Romans 12:1, 2). In our lives Jesus Christ must be magnified in our bodies (Philipl pians 1:20). This is the reason why God dwells only within His chil dren. Throughout the history of the church, this truth has been per verted many times. The pulpit is the place to preach the Gospel and to teach the Word of God. We should be careful that other issues do not supplant this basic thrust. We need to be careful about the practical things of life. God's hand is never seen in movements them selves. It is seen in the lives of those who have Him guiding them. Where men honor God with their bodies, minds and hearts, the Lord prospers their work. Christ is not magnified only in great buildings. It is great to have nice facilities but we are never to look to such things as the means God uses to bring glory to His name. In Matthew 5:29 Jesus testified, "And if thy right eye offend thee,
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