In my studies this week, looking again at the majesty and worth of God, I was reminded that we all, one day, will stand before the judgment bar of God and answer to God for the sins we have committed. This is why the gospel is so important – through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we can be forgiven and be able to live with God throughout eternity. We must realize that it is not God’s will “that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-10). Hebrews 8:12 states, “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”
Our thoughts effect our body physically, emotionally, and spiritually; hence, we need to think on good things, especially the promises of God. Do you spend time in the word of God? To get rid of the “stinking thinking” that the world throws at us, we must concentrate on God.
Sin starts in the thoughts of men. We see sin so much in mass media that it does not even bother us anymore. Men try to justify wrongdoing in many ways, and, if not forgiven, they will have to give an answer to the Creator as to why they acted on their thoughts. Beloved, we must always keep in mind that all men will answer to the just and righteous Judge on that day.
Hence, it is vitally important that we control our thoughts and make sure that we are not being swayed by the enemy. Let’s look at some passages of Scripture that emphasizes that we do have a choice in what we think, and how our thinking affects our lives.
· Proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. . . “
· Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
· Isaiah 43:18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.”
· Psalms 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”
· Psalms 94:11 “The Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.”
· Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
· Proverbs 3:5“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
· Proverbs 4:23“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
· Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
· Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
· Matthew 22:37 “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
· Mark 7:21-22 “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.”
· Mark 12:30 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
· Romans 7:23 “But I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.”
· Romans 7:25 “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
· Romans 8:6 “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
· Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
· Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”
· 1 Corinthians 2:11 “For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
· 1 Corinthians 2:16 “‘For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”
· 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
· Ephesians 4:23 “And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds.”
· Philippians 2:5 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”
· Philippians 4:6-9“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
· Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
· 2 Timothy 1:7
Tommy
