In Luke’s gospel, he recounts the story of Jesus having dinner with a Pharisee.  After one particular event – with which the Pharisee had serious issues – the Pharisee, although never saying a word, thought to himself how much he thought Jesus was in the wrong.

Luke records,

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” 7:39-40 [emphasis mine]

How is your thought-life?

The battle always begins in the mind. Our mind is the battleground and incubator for both good and evil. And Satan knows it.

This is why Paul wrote, “Set your mind on things above,” and more specifically, “Take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.”

If this was an easy thing to do the Bible wouldn’t mention it so many times.  It was just as hard to keep your mind pure twenty centuries ago as it is today.

Impure, unhealthy thoughts cloud our mind, slowly and methodically. The psalmist warned, “As a man thinks, so is he [in behavior].”

Be very careful about what you allow into your mind through media and conversation. Or, as the psalmist put it,

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

One of the metaphors used for God is light. What is one thing that light does? It exposes everything hiding in the dark.

Jesus said,

“For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.”

Even now, God is recording every single thought.  Nothing is hidden from his sight.

The battle begins in our mind.  Guard it in the power of  Christ.

nw