CUT AND RUN

This phrase was first used in the 18th century. It describes the act that allowed a ship in an urgent situation to quickly make sail 'unencumbered' ... by cutting loose the anchor. 

Know this, that the Word of God proclaims a radical call to holiness, followed by a behest to faithfully press on; in essence, a spiritual 'Cut' and 'Run'. By these two edicts, your life as a Christian unfolds.

CUT every anchor ...

If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than have two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. Matthew 18:8-9

Jesus' strong words were not meant to encourage self-mutilation ... but to shock you into realizing how important it is to disconnect from that which causes you to stumble. As the Holy Spirit reveals what hinders your devotion, it must be severed from your life (regardless of how socially acceptable it might be). A superficial belief in God that somehow justifies sin; this is not 'saving faith'. 

Spurgeon - Better to be but a maimed believer than to be an accomplished unbeliever; better to be an uncultured saint than a cultured modern thinker; better that you lose an eye or lose a hand than lose your faith in God and his Word.

RUN with endurance ...

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, Hebrews 12:1

You cannot effectively run the course set before you if weighted down by sin. Your pace is slowed to 'burdensome plodding' (if indeed there is progress at all) and spiritual failure after spiritual failure ensues. 

For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. 1 John 2:16

Lay aside those things that keep you from an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Cut and Run, pilgrim ...