I think…
“Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved….8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
The command to stay pure, and to constantly dwell on, think about the right, and honorable things of the Lord is just as important as it was in the days when Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Philippi. I also think that it’s harder today than it was then. (I wasn’t around in the first century, so I’m not positive about that; but with all the unholy/dishonorable stuff that we can see or even get involved by clicking the remote or the mouse I think I may be right!) It is hard sometimes to even watch TV and not be exposed to these things. I love college football, and there’s nothing wrong with watching a great game of football(or whatever you like), but without fail there’s going to be a close-up of scantily clad cheerleaders, or a commercial with barely dressed men and women that easily makes your mind wander to places it should never go. At times like this I usually go to the kitchen, or flip on another game(there’s no shortage of football on a Saturday afternoon, I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR). As people what we see affects the thoughts that go through our mind, and as Christians the thoughts that go through our minds are of utmost importance to God. Because our thought life is the first step to sinning! Don’t misunderstand me because I am NOT saying that having a wrong thought is a sin, but it can be the first step that leads us into a sinful lifestyle. All of human history is full of examples of people who began down the wrong path of disobedience simply by having the wrong thought life, and allowing those thoughts to linger in their minds.
The first sinful act of disobedience to God began with Eve looking at the forbidden fruit, and pondering it’s “good” quality’s. “Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate ; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” The Bible says that Eve thought about the “good” qualities, and ignored the prohibition that God gave; and so sin entered the world.
King David was one of the greatest kings Israel ever had, but even he sinned against God, and it began in his thought life. “II Samuel 11:2 Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing ; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.” The king saw Bathsheba from the roof of his house, and in his mind he thought he had to have her as his own. So, he began a sinful relationship that eventually led to the division of Israel.
Judas Iscariot was disappointed by the fact that Jesus Christ was not raising an army to throw the Romans out of Israel, “Luke 22:3 And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve.4 And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.5 They were glad and agreed to give him money.6 So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them…” Judas’ betrayal of Jesus began with his disappointment, and his thoughts turned to resentment for what he thought was betrayal.
Adolph Hitler was an ordinary soldier during WWI, and when Germany was defeated he looked for someone to blame. Because of a preexisting hatred of the Jews they were the natural scapegoats for his anger, and after he conned his way to becoming the leader of Germany he was able to pour out his wrath on God’s chosen people and complete his sin against God that began in his thought life.
Most people are familiar with the childhood Vacation Bible School song, “Be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little feet where you go…” That is more than just a warning to children, but should be adhered by all people because what we see, what we hear, and where we go has an impact on how we think; and how we think directly affects how we relate to our Heavenly Father.
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Father God, I thank You for all the gifts You have given, and mostly for the gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I ask that You would help me to be careful in my thoughts, so that I might glorify with all of my life.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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Yes, You Can Ministry 