Thinking on the Truth

Dear Reader,

I want to talk about thought life again.  Back in May, I wrote to you about how the enemy encourages the spirit of fear.  Now I want to draw your attention to another powerful tool used against us that starts in our minds, but untamed, can damage our relationships with others.  It may begin as the simple question, "I wonder what she thinks of me?"  With continued thought and a few days without talking, it might become, "She obviously doesn't agree with me."  That opens the door to, "Well, I don't need an unsupportive friend anyway."  And there, a friendship dies without any words except in the mind of the thinker!

This may seem far-fetched, but it reminds me of a friendship of my own.  One day, I revealed a political opinion that hushed my friend quickly.  I didn't hear from her for awhile after that.  I kept thinking about the conversation, growing angry that she dared judge me.  But instead of immediately addressing my concern (that she looked down on me) by talking to her, I let my anger fester, assuming the worst.  Thinking she judged me, I started judging her.  By the end of each conversation I had with myself, our friendship seemed to make less sense.

I finally asked her what was wrong, to which she replied, "Nothing." 

Oh, that made me so mad!  Of course something was wrong!  She wasn't acting herself.  She must have been really upset with me!  So I tried to pry her open to see the truth.  She met me with stronger resistance, and I stumbled backwards and landed on my crobar.  That hurt.  So I finally decided to give her some room, and we stopped speaking. 

Later, she revealed that my opinion greatly upset her.  I held fast to what I believed, angry that she had lied to me.  She held fast to what she believed...and I don't quite know what she felt.  But our friendship never picked up after that. 

Let me break down what we did wrong, according to the Bible:

I did not take my thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).  According to the Word, all of my thoughts need to be obedient.  As soon as I started thinking harsh thoughts about my sister in the Lord, I disobeyed 1 Corinthians 13:4,5, which says, "Love...thinks no evil." 

I did not think on what is true (Philippians 4:8).  Even sooner than I started judging my friend, I forgot to think on what is true.  The Bible says that if a sister is sinned against, she is to go to the sinner and reveal the fault.  Until my sister came to me, I could not assume she had anything against me. 

I claimed omniscience only attributed to God (Isaiah 55:9).  When I decided what my friend thought, I presumed I had the highest knowledge. 

My friend let the sun set on her anger (Ephesians 4:26).  Though she eventually told me that I offended her (as prescribed in Matthew 18:15), she stewed in her frustration first.

We couldn't get over the pride of our opinions (Proverbs 16:18).  Because of this, I didn't speak to my friend for a year.  Though the Lord led me to reconcile, my friend did not wish to pursue our once active friendship.  What had started in our minds manifested itself in our lives, and now each of us has one less companion.    

With the boom in technology, we hear about what a powerful tool the mind is.  Yes, absolutely!  But too many people underestimate how the enemy can use it to distract or destroy God's people.  What happened between my friend and I did not build up the Body.  I regret my immature thought life, and though we "split" years ago, I wonder how much I've grown in controlling my mind since then.  Recently, I realized how heavy my thoughts felt.  The pressure of impressing people with my words and actions began taking a toll.  It seemed like I relayed to my husband concerns about others' thoughts, perceptions and presumed opinions every week.  I had been focusing on another Bible study, so I put away Elizabeth George's Loving God With All Your Mind.  But the Lord reminded me of the importance of thinking on the truth.  So I picked it up again a couple of weeks ago, and it will be my focus until I finish it (or until the Lord leads me elsewhere, whichever comes first!).   

I want to encourage you to train your brain with me.  Our human nature dictates our thought lives unless we teach ourselves to think on the truths of the Word.  Each lesson in my workbook for Loving God With All Your Mind asks the same question: "What can you do this week, in obedience to Christ, to think on the truth?"  And each time, I remember the importance of knowing the truth in order to think on the truth.  We need to read God's Word!  If we don't know what is true, how can we expect to think anything but lies?  So be diligent to read the treasures of the Bible this week and every week, and together we'll learn to think on what is true. 

Blessings,
adguglielmo

 

Trust God

Dear Reader, 

Trust God today.  If you know Romans 8:28, you will remember in your struggles that "all things work together for the good of those who love God."  If you know Jeremiah 29:11, you will remember as you look toward the future that God has "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."  And if you know Proverbs 3:5-6, you will remember that God will make your path straight if you "trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding."

So trudge through self-sufficiency and independence with me today as we bring our hearts to trust in God.  Lord, work in us so that we will trust in Your sovereignty over our lives.  It isn't about what we want!  We're not here to serve our desires!  We're here to glorify You and lead others to do the same.  Help us put our faith in You and remove any faith in ourselves.  What can we do, Lord?  Thank You for Your grace and leadership.  Show us where our straight paths head (in Your time).  Help us to prosper where we are until You place us elsewhere. We love You and we praise You for Your faithfulness in our lives.  Amen.

In love, 

adguglielmo

 
 

The Lukewarm Church

"Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth"-Rev. 3:16.

Dear Reader,

I'm finishing the last week of my Precept Upon Precept study (Revelation Part One: Jesus' Message to the Church).  I've spent months disecting the purpose and context of Jesus' messages to the seven churches in Asia.  When I bought this workbook, I couldn't wait to understand the prophecies of Revelation.  However, this workbook spent little time on anything but the personal application of Jesus' instructions to each of the early churches.  Having studied all of the messages, I am grateful for the Lord's historic and present advice to His church, as every word applies today. 

Each of the messages follows a general pattern.  First, Jesus describes Himself to the individual church in an identidfiable way.  Following, He commends, rebukes, warns and instructs as the churches need.  Finally, Jesus makes a faithful promise to overcomers.  

Only two of the churches received no reproof (Smyrna, called the "Persecuted Church," and Philadelphia, known as the "Faithful Church," or the "Church of Brotherly Love").  These churches deserved praise for endurance and for keeping Jesus' name. 

On the other hand, one church received no commendation from Christ.  Laodicea, called the "Lukewarm Church," was bereft of any good deed before the Lord.  Through John, Jesus spoke this message to the Laodiceans: 

"The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.  So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,' and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.  He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne'"-Revelation 3:14-21.

Verse 17 piqued my interest, where Jesus says, "You do not know that you are..."  The Laodiceans didn't understand their sad spiritual state!  They had no idea that though they were rich in this life, they would be destitute in the life to come.  They were too busy getting wealthy to realize that they had not stored up any wealth in heaven, as the Lord instructed in Matthew 6:20.  This worried me.  Lord, am I too busy planning for the future, getting an education or making decisions to see that I've left You behind?  A couple of days ago, I had a discussion with my husband about our future.  After we finished talking about what we both want, I realized that the Lord's plan never even came up.  How can we hash out perfect plans without consulting the One guiding our path?   Why is it so easy to be self-sufficient and independent from God?

In spite of ourselves and because of His grace, hope abounds even for Laodicea.  Verse 19 says, "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline."  Jesus wanted the church to know her spiritual poverty because He loves her.  This life is but a breath (Job 7:7), so we must store up our treasures in heaven.  We must buy from Jesus gold, white garments and eye salve to be rich, clothed and seeing.  If one only hears His voice and answers the door, that one will sit on Jesus' throne.  What an incredible reward, even after turning away from Jesus in pride of one's own work. 

I pray for those who do not realize their destitution.  Lord, reveal the truth through Your Word.  Give us the strength to gently remind those who have fallen by the wayside of this world of the true, lasting riches You offer.  You give freely to anyone who thirsts (Revelation 21:6).  Stir up Your Spirit inside so they will thirst after You.   

I've always been told that Jesus is a gentleman (He knocks on the door instead of kicking it in).  Let's quiet our hearts so that we don't miss His gentle knocking in our lives.  He is true and everything He says is true.  So let's listen.

By His grace, 

adguglielmo