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August
August 1, 2008
Kevin Wood
 
Thoughts Matter
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
The discipline of thinking is perhaps one of the overlooked disciplines of our generation. There is the prevailing thought or idea out there that what a person thinks does not matter. Some would say that what matters is what a person does and a person’s interior thought life is not significant in comparison. However, scripture indicates that what we think is vitally important to God.
In Philippians 4:8, Paul reminds us that our thoughts matter to God. He wants our thoughts to be disciplined and directed. The direction of our thoughts ought to be on those things that are true, good, and right. The discipline of thinking is all about choosing the right things on which to cogitate.
By far the most difficult proposition is to discipline our thinking. Modern culture is shaped by the proposition that thinking is at best an unnecessary thing and at worst a life distraction. The last thing modern people want to do is think about their lives. From a Christian perspective thinking is vital and it is to be directed and disciplined.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 10 Paul states a central truth about the Christian’s thought life. He writes, “we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” What Paul is saying in Philippians and 2 Corinthians is our thoughts do matter to God. He is also saying that Christians are responsible for their belief systems and their interior lives. But, perhaps most importantly he is teaching us that even our thought lives have to be yielded to Christ.
In the Bible we are taught that eventually every knee will bow to Christ. But, before every knee bows, and before every tongue confesses Christ, every mind will know the great truth that he is Lord. In the end, even our thoughts will belong to Him.
Blessings,
Kevin
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