Christ Leads The Way

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.” – Colossians 1:21

Hi, friends! I hope that you are well! Thank you for reading. I appreciate you!

Have you ever thought something but never acted on it? Have you ever thought that it was harmless because you didn’t? I’ve had that experience, and maybe even out of anger, indignation, or frustration thought that it was okay to at least be able to think whatever I wanted. I was wrong.

That type of thinking is a huge departure from the word of God. A quick view of the scriptures reveals what God says about the way we think. The Lord sees the mind and the heart (Jeremiah 20:12) and He knows everything that comes into our minds (Ezekiel 11:5). Yes, Jesus knows our thoughts (Matthew 9:4). So, they definitely matter.

Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). We must be devoted to God in every area of our lives, including our minds. The apostle Paul reminds us that “those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:5-6). If we don’t have the mind of Christ then we are enemies of God (Romans 8:7).

Renewing our minds is a continual process, and it is a necessity in order to not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). Sin starts in the mind. Our actions are led by our thoughts. As Christians we “all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others” (Ephesians 2:3).

So, whether or not I actually cuss the barista out in my thoughts for being rude every time I order, even thinking the thoughts is not Christ-like. We must take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). And if going to the corner coffee shop causes me to sin in my mind and presents a stumbling block, then I must remove it from getting in the way of my service and devotion to Christ (Matthew 5:29-30). No matter how convenient or close it may be, I won’t go back or put myself in the situation to even have those thoughts. My walk with Christ, heaven, and my soul are all too important.

I know that some people may argue that thoughts are harmless if you don’t act on them. But, no matter if it’s your preacher, your family, or whomever else that agrees with or does wrong, God is always the standard and His words are the source of truth. Sin is sin, no matter who may say it’s okay.

I’m thankful for Isaiah 55:7. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

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