2 Peter 1Peter gives instructions here that are very relevant to the mission of this blog. He tells us in verses 3 and 4 of all we have in Christ, "through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." Then in verse 8, he speaks of being "ineffective or unfruitful" in this knowledge. I have been working through the very great promises we have in Christ, using Ephesians 1 and 2 as a base for my study. And I am soberly reflecting on the fact that simple study of these truths isn't the guarantee of spiritual growth and change. Paul and Peter both teach about the 2nd tier of the battle--first knowing the truth and second bringing our thoughts into submission to the truth.
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being
ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
In 2 Cor. 10:5, Paul teaches us that we must “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” The terms “destroy” and “take captive” are terms of war. The idea is that there is a battle for our minds. We must destroy (refute and tear down) arguments that contradict and diminish what we know to be true about God. Then we must take our thoughts captive and make them submit to what we know to be true about Christ. The same word for taking our thoughts captive is used in 2 Tim. 3:6, “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions.” To be honest, this is not my favorite verse in the Bible. On a bad day, it just seems sexist. But on a day when I’m thinking honestly about my own nature, it reminds me that either I take my own thoughts captive and make them submit to the truth of God’s Word, or I am a prime target for someone else coming in to take my thoughts captive, leading me away from Christ and into sin. I tend to be much better at refuting the bad arguments of someone else than the ones going on inside my very own head. I can point out others unreasonable thoughts about God, but my own go unchecked quite often.
There is a battle for our minds. If you’re like me, you are likely to focus first on what you DO. But Scripture is clear that our mind is the first battlefield, well before our actions. What we THINK will determine all the rest. Here are some other verses that reinforce this concept. They have been helpful to me as I wrestle through what it means to “abide in Christ” and to live mentally governed by the reality of what I am in Him.
Colossians 1:17-18 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Isaiah 26:3 3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
1 comments:
Very helpful. Thank you!
Post a Comment