“Drama Queen!”  We have all heard those words used dramatically of certain individuals.  But would we be justified in calling Jesus a “Drama King”?  Listen to these words from his mouth that come from today’s One Year Bible reading:

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.  If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  If you eye causes you to sin, gouge it out.  It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.  For everyone will be tested by fire” (Mark 9:43-49).

Phew!  I can almost imagine his disciples whispering to each other, “Why does he have to be such a Drama King?  That kind of preaching is not going to get him a following.”

Nonetheless, Jesus calls us to deal severely with what causes us to sin.  He encourages us to deal dramatically with those parts of our lives which trigger temptation.  Lop them off.  Remove them.  Stay away from them.

What might that look like in every day life?  Don’t watch certain kinds of movies.  Don’t go to certain places.  Don’t visit certain websites.  Stay away from conversations where gossip is the agenda.  Choose not to order the movie channels on cable.

We each know where our points of vulnerability are.  Let’s be Drama Kings and Queens and deal dramatically with those things that tempt us.  Let’s live as Drama Kings and Queens holy and set apart unto the LORD.

Lord, help me set myself up for success when it comes to living a life of character and purity.  May I not live seeing how close to sin I can get without crossing the line.  Instead, may I see how far I can get from sin and how close I can get to you!  Lead me not into temptation.  Deliver me from evil.  I choose you!  Amen.