II Cor 10:3-5 (NIV) “3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
This verse is all about how differently we “war” that the world does. We war over our thought life… we war with our mind. I’ve heard too often people chide that Christianity is a crutch for people who can’t think for themselves. I’ve heard it said that faith is where people turn when they can’t think or reason. Clearly, people who say this haven’t read the scriptures as the Bible is full of context and richness on just how “thinky” our faith is.
- Phil 4:8 – “… think on these things…”
- Rom 12:2 – “…renew your mind..”
- II Cor 10:5 – “… take captive every thought…”
- Col 3:2 – “.. set your mind on things above..”
And that’s just of the top of my head… I’m sure the list is fairly substantial. Anyone who has read the New Testament, can’t possibly think that Paul believed his faith to be a crutch and that Paul wasn’t an intellectual…
I just read chapter 2 of John Maxwell’s “Thinking For A Change” where he dissects the affects of good thinking. Good thinking changes your beliefs which changes your expectations, which changes your attitude which changes your behavior, which changes your performance, which changes your life. Dr. Caroline Leaf’s book “Who Switched Off My Brain” presents the scientific evidence behind and the practical application of Romans 12:2 “renewing your mind.”
11 Cor 10:5 in The Message version is really enlightening to see this passage from another angle: “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.”
“… every loose thought and emotion and impulse..”… where do those come from? The mind.
John 15:2-3 (NLT) He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.
I’ve often taken this passage in the context of being an “unfruitful” person being cut off. If I’m not exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), if I’m not being fruitful in my gifts and call of the Lord (Rom 12:4-8), etc. But what if what gets cut off and pruned isn’t people, but attitudes, pride, fear and other influences of my thinking and understanding?
Jesus said that he didn’t come to abolish the law but to complete it. What does that look like?
Jesus’ teachings clarified and redefined what mankind had made of the Law – a bunch of rules and regulations that were not motivated by anything other than fear and pride.
Jesus changed the attitudes and motivation. The motivation behind his teaching is out of love for Him, love for God, and love for others – based and rooted in relationship.
What attitudes, perceptions, and influences need to be cut off of my life because they don’t bear fruit?
What motivations need to be pruned in order to be more fruitful?
Running After Papa…