Some thoughts about thinking Biblically
We have often heard it said about the continent of Africa that it is the last great frontier. In other words, it is raw and untamed. It is in its virgin state and has not yet been fully developed. I know this to be true because I spend alot of time there throughout the year teaching for our foundation. Africa's greatest potential politically, socially, financially, and spiritually remains untapped.
In a similar fashion for the Christian, there is another frontier that can remain raw, undeveloped, and undisciplined, and it can remain so for many years after an individual becomes a believer in Jesus Christ. That frontier is the mind. For many Christians, the mind represents the last vestige of personal identity and ownership. For many Christians it remains that stubborn dimension of life that is never fully surrendered and sanctified by the Holy Spirit of God. It is in fact, the final frontier!
The Bible says in Luke 6:45, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouths speaks." This verse indicates something very important to us, not only as Christians, but as human beings. We speak and do out of what comes from our heart. Heart here represents our faculty of thinking. Proverbs 23:7 states, "For as a man thinks within himself so he becomes." In other words, you cannot separate thought and action. They both go together in the fabric of life.
That is why Paul told us to guard our hearts and control our thoughts. In Romans 12:2, the apostle said,
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that" which is good and acceptable and perfect."
I remember years ago when our family went to live in Newfoundland as church planters there was a newspaper story about a local boy who had been arrested for murder. It was a sensational event which had captured the attention of the entire city of Corner Brook where we settled. The young man who committed the henious act of rape and murder of a young woman was known as a "good" boy and a young man who was never in trouble. However, it was discovered during the trial that he had been feeding his mind on a avicious form of pornography for over five years when finally he decided to act out in reality what he had been secretly viewing for years. He literally became what he had been thinking about and the result was incredibly evil, life-shattering, and final.
This illustrates why it is so important for believers to heed Paul's admontion to "take captive every thought to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). This simply means that we not only need to be in control of our thoughts, but we also need to make certain our thinking reflects obedience to the indwelling Spirit of God. Remember every thought and act will ultimately be judged at the judgement seat of Christ! So instead of waiting for God to pass judgement in that day, begin right now and be the Sheriff of your own thoughts by arresting them or taking them captive yourself!
In a similar fashion for the Christian, there is another frontier that can remain raw, undeveloped, and undisciplined, and it can remain so for many years after an individual becomes a believer in Jesus Christ. That frontier is the mind. For many Christians, the mind represents the last vestige of personal identity and ownership. For many Christians it remains that stubborn dimension of life that is never fully surrendered and sanctified by the Holy Spirit of God. It is in fact, the final frontier!
The Bible says in Luke 6:45, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouths speaks." This verse indicates something very important to us, not only as Christians, but as human beings. We speak and do out of what comes from our heart. Heart here represents our faculty of thinking. Proverbs 23:7 states, "For as a man thinks within himself so he becomes." In other words, you cannot separate thought and action. They both go together in the fabric of life.
That is why Paul told us to guard our hearts and control our thoughts. In Romans 12:2, the apostle said,
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that" which is good and acceptable and perfect."
I remember years ago when our family went to live in Newfoundland as church planters there was a newspaper story about a local boy who had been arrested for murder. It was a sensational event which had captured the attention of the entire city of Corner Brook where we settled. The young man who committed the henious act of rape and murder of a young woman was known as a "good" boy and a young man who was never in trouble. However, it was discovered during the trial that he had been feeding his mind on a avicious form of pornography for over five years when finally he decided to act out in reality what he had been secretly viewing for years. He literally became what he had been thinking about and the result was incredibly evil, life-shattering, and final.
This illustrates why it is so important for believers to heed Paul's admontion to "take captive every thought to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). This simply means that we not only need to be in control of our thoughts, but we also need to make certain our thinking reflects obedience to the indwelling Spirit of God. Remember every thought and act will ultimately be judged at the judgement seat of Christ! So instead of waiting for God to pass judgement in that day, begin right now and be the Sheriff of your own thoughts by arresting them or taking them captive yourself!
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