THINKING AND SPIRITUAL LIFE
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing EVERY THOUGHT into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Devotion 2 of 12

THOUGHT--NOT AN END OF ITSELF
    Thought is not an end of itself. Satan also promotes thinking; in fact, he is the originator of patterns of thought that lead to perdition. Scripture apprizes us that, prior to the flood, men were dominated by "evil thoughts" continually (Gen 6:5). Jesus declared such thoughts came from the "heart," and were expressions of a corrupted nature (Matt.15:19). The Psalmist spoke of "vain thoughts," affirming that he had a hatred for them (Psa 94:11; 119:119). Isaiah  wrote of those possessing "thoughts of iniquity" (Isa 65:2), and Micah condemned a generation that had "not the thoughts of the Lord" (Mic 4:12). Here is a danger zone that has been obscured by the frothy religion of our time.

Thoughts can be vain
     Those limited to the wisdom of this world are said to have "vain" thoughts (1 Cor 3:20). The cursed realm is not conducive to sound thought. Unless the individual is born again, thinking tends downward, and cannot rise into the realm of Divine fellowship. Such thinking is at a fundamental variance with God, and is not subject to His law (Rom 8:7). It is not possible for those so dominated to please God. They may be prodigious thinkers, but, from God's perspective, their thoughts are all vain and pointless.

Thoughts must be right
     Thoughts must be "right" to give true advantage to the thinker. This places a new perspective on "opinion," or "private interpretation." While highly taunted by men, such apparent privileges carry little weight in the kingdom of God. This is not intended to discourage free expression. It is intended to underscore the importance of seeking rightness in our considerations.

ALIENATED IN THOUGHT
     It is never commendable to admit to being unlike God in our thoughts. That is a condition to be zealously avoided! I have often heard religious leaders admit to disagreement with divine expression. Without apparent shame, they acknowledge they would "not have done it" the way God did. That may seem like an innocent expression, but it is not. Every honest heart will admit to thoughts at variance with divine utterance. That is a condition that exists in the best of people. However, it is not something to be declared, as though it were  sanctified by commonness. Rather, it should be confessed to the Lord as an intolerable condition. Our salvation includes the sanctification of the mind. Tender hearts can find a resolution to the dilemma of variant thinking at the throne of all grace. That resolution must be fervently sought to be obtained.

Wayward thinking is serious
     The seriousness of wayward thought is seen in its effects. The "sweet psalmist of Israel" identified the wicked by their failure to entertain God in their thoughts. "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts" (Psa 10:4). That is a startling consideration for the average churchman! Observe, the quest for God Himself  is impacted by the failure to have Him in our thoughts. That provides an explanation for the general disinterest in spiritual things that exists in our time. The truth of the matter is, things other than the Lord Himself dominate the thought-lives of the religious multitudes. One only has to participate in the average "church" conversation to confirm this is the case.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I pray with the Psalmist, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer,"  and "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts." I desire for my thoughts to be pleasing to You. I know they will then be satisfying to me, and productive in me. Bless me to this end, in Jesus' name.

-- TOMORROW: A DIVINE INDICTMENT --