Articles
Been Thinking
Thinking! There are just some terms that are self-defined even when they do not have a definition. Thinking helps someone circumambulate actions. All-in-all, “thinking” is defined as 1. The act or practice of one that thinks; thought. 2. A way of reasoning; judgment (Freedictionary.com). So, you have a thought. The thought, in turn, begins to reason, to make judgments based upon information previously stored in your brain. Have you ever had a thought? Of course, you have, but where did it come from?
The function of thinking existed long before man came into the equation: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). Thought preceded action. That does not mean the action was correct, i.e., “I didn’t think about that before I acted.” However, there was still a thought that preceded the act.
It is a good practice to think before acting, but it is even more paramount to think properly before acting and that is where the obtaining of knowledge is paramount: gather the facts.
In Philippians 4:8 the apostle Paul exhorted the brethren to “think on these things.” The thinking of an individual forms the life and actions. An individual needs to consider their own thoughts, but also the thoughts of others. Solomon gives this warning: “When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him that is before thee; And put a knife to thy throat, If thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food…Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties: For as he thinketh within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.” (Prov. 23:1-3, 6-7). Think about why you were bidden to such a feast.
Wicked and unrighteous thoughts are a matter of the will: Isaiah said, “let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts” (55:7). This is similar to that which brought the flood upon the world in the days of Noah, i.e., “And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). Thus, “Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil” (Prov. 12:20). Therefore, each should bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). Your thoughts are yours. They are not a result of some outward force or something inherited. If you have evil and/or unrighteous thoughts, it is because you made the choice: “For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lascivi-ousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.” (Mk. 7:21-23).
So, back to the apostle Paul: What is the counter thought process from those afore mentioned? “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Phil. 4:8-9).
What will dominate your thoughts today? (Ross Triplett, Sr.)
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