Focal Passage for 2011:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Weekly Passage:
“(Love) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.”
1 Corinthians 13:5
As we continue our journey into 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, we will focus our time this week on the fourth portion of verse 5. Our focus this past year has been, and continues to be, learning to love others as Christ loves us. As I have shared before, my definition of love differs from God’s definition of love. God is teaching me that HE is the authority on all things. In light of that truth, if my definition is different than His, my definition is wrong!! “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
This week, we will focus our attention on the fourth portion of our focal passage “(Love) thinks no evil.” The more I study God’s Word the more I realize how little I know! The more I study Scripture the more I am convicted of my sin! This journey continues to be a very difficult road for me but I am so thankful for God’s sustaining grace and His never failing love. The past couple of weeks, the Lord has used our focal passage to spur a deeper evaluation of my thought life. Our pastor has written a thought life study that he uses to encourage people in developing a Biblical-based thought life. I have asked his permission to share some of his material because I have personally benefited from his study. Pastor Mike’s work is under his copyright but he is generously allowing us to use it for this particular portion of our devotion.
You may be wondering how a study of our thought life fits into our journey in learning to love as Christ loves. That is a wonderful question, My Friend! I am learning that one huge factor in our actions, reactions, responses, and communication stems from our thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 states “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” “In other words, a person’s thinking determines his living. The way this progression works out practically is that our thoughts stir our feelings, which in turn trigger our actions. That is why we must learn to gain control over our heart and mind” (Pastor Mike Summers, Personal Thought-Life Study, p.1). Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it springs the issues of life.”
How do we keep our hearts with all diligence? In our Ladies Sunday School class, we are studying Proverbs 31. Our goal is to become a “Woman after God’s Own Heart.” Through our pursuit, we are learning that what we watch, what and who we listen to, where we seek counsel, and what we allow our minds to meditate upon must be chosen through godly wisdom. The book of Proverbs begins with the pursuit of godly wisdom and concludes with the application of that wisdom. Regardless of our gender, God calls us to live a life surrendered to Him. That means that our thought life must be surrendered to Him.
Turn to 2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” “Our thought life is to be taken captive. This shows us that we can be in control of our thinking. If you don’t take your thoughts captive-they will take you captive! You are to bring your thinking in line to obedience to Christ. In other words, what we think about is to be brought into submission to Him” (Summers, p. 1).
“How can you gain control of wrong thoughts that are corrosive to your joy and stability in Christ? Wrong thinking doesn’t just change because we may want it to change. The battleground is your mind and you are equipped to be victorious because through His Son, God has provided you the resources for the battle you face” (Summers, p. 1).
Let’s turn together to 2 Peter 1:2-8. What truths can we glean from this passage of Scripture?
My Friend, do you see the great promise rooted deep within this portion of Scripture?! We are already victorious through Christ Jesus! We do not have to be controlled by wrong thinking. We can be wise and discerning men and women of God! We are equipped through the power of the Holy Spirit to say the right things, to do the right things, and to encourage others to apply this very truth to their lives as well. This past week, the Lord has used a situation in a friend’s life to really convict me personally. I began to realize how much influence I really have over my husband and even my children. I also began to realize how often I misuse that influence. As I prayed over this and asked the Lord to help me to fully confess my sin, HE allowed me to see that what I am thinking about truly does impact what I say and do.
When our hearts and minds are stayed on the Lord and focusing on His truths, our words and deeds will encourage others. When we take our minds captive and understand that “everything we do and every word we say is seen, heard, and evaluated by a holy God” then we will be more mindful of the way we behave (whether in word, deed, or thought). The way we love others is influenced by our thoughts. As children of God we are commanded through Scripture to love others as Christ loves us. In doing so, our obedience to the Lord serves as a reflection of Christ to others and ministered to the very deepest need we all have – to love the Lord God with all our hearts and to know Him as our personal Lord and Savior. Thus brings us to the life application.
How do we develop a pleasing and obedient thought life?
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). In his Personal Thought-Life Study. Mike Summers suggests 4 steps of daily application of this truth:
1. Pray that God would help you make your thoughts acceptable to Him (Psalm 19:14).
2. Renew your mind by filling it with the right things (Romans 12:1-2; Psalm 119:11-16).
3. Commit each thing you do to the Lord and right thoughts will be established (Proverbs 16:3).
4. Occupy your mind with what is acceptable (Philippians 4:8-9).
